| Mark 6:37 – But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” |
What kind of person are you?
Here’s a simple test.
Imagine you’re on vacation, driving down the highway.
You spot a sign:
“Ziplining – Next Exit.”
Now, you know what ziplining is—soaring across a canyon or ravine, held up by a wire, a harness, and (let’s be honest) equipment probably built by the lowest bidder.
Do you take the exit?
Or do you drive on by?
Some of us are “jump in” people. Others… not so much.
But the truth is, life constantly presents us with decisions—not all as thrilling as ziplining, but just as defining.
Do you move to a new town?
Do you change jobs?
Do you retire now or wait?
Do you stay… or step out?
These questions rarely come with easy answers. But they all require something vital: the willingness to say yes.
There’s a story told about President Thomas Jefferson that captures this beautifully.
He was traveling across the countryside on horseback with a group of companions. They came to a swollen river where the bridge had been washed out. The only way forward was to ford the river, and it wasn’t easy. One by one, the men crossed with great caution.
A traveler had been watching from the side. After observing the group, he walked up to Jefferson’s horse, tapped him on the boot, and asked,
“Can I get a ride across?”
Without hesitation, Jefferson said yes. The man climbed on behind him, and together they safely crossed.
On the other side, one of Jefferson’s companions turned to the man in disbelief.
“Why would you ask the President of the United States for a ride? Why didn’t you ask one of us?”
The man looked stunned.
“I had no idea he was the president. All I knew was that on some of your faces was written the word ‘no.’ But on his face was written the word ‘yes.’”
That’s the kind of person I want to be.
The kind with yes written across my face.
In Mark 6, Jesus is faced with a crowd—thousands of people who are hungry. His disciples do what most of us would do: offer a practical solution.
“Send them away,” they say.
Let them find something to eat. Let them take care of themselves.
But Jesus doesn’t see it that way.
He looks at that crowd with compassion. And then he says something stunning:
“You give them something to eat.”
The disciples are floored. With what? All they can gather are five small barley loaves—about the size of baseballs—and two tiny fish. Not even enough for a child’s lunch.
But somehow, in the hands of Jesus, it becomes enough.
More than enough.
Five thousand people are fed.
All because Jesus didn’t see impossible.
He saw opportunity.
He didn’t say no.
He said yes.
So let me ask you:
When people look at your life, your heart, your face… what word do they see?
Do they see the cautious “no”?
Or the courageous “yes”?
Because somewhere in your life, someone is standing on the bank—uncertain, looking for help, wondering if they can trust you to carry them through.
Will they choose you?
Will they see in you the kind of faith that takes the next exit, crosses the river, or feeds the hungry crowd?
Maybe the biggest question of all is this:
What will your next “yes” be?
–Robert G. Taylor
robertgtaylor.com
