Even if you're not responsible for paying for the food you eat then I'm sure you're aware that food prices are going up, along with energy bills, petrol ... all making the cost of living more expensive than it was a year ago. But even with the effects of the credit crunch and the downward turn in the housing market, if you are reading this (i.e. you have access to a computer and electricity) it is unlikely that you are doing so with an empty stomach. For many of us in 'the west' increased food bills probably means little more than less luxury items it the weekly shop - and maybe we look out for the odd bargain more than we did before.
But for many people living in countries like Bangladesh failed harvests simply mean that there is no food. In a good year a farmer might sell a proportion of his rice to the government and keep some back for his family, therefore providing valuable income with which to buy essentials, such as medicines, and also having enough to eat, and seed to plant the following year. But when turmoil in the earth's weather systems causes disastrous flooding which wipes out your crop then you have nothing. And when you have nothing - you die.
Today is our harvest service, in which we thank God for His provision, but also recognise that we who have much have a responsibility to those who don't. Once again this year we are supporting the ongoing work of BMS World Mission. If you were not at one of our services you can download the video, filmed in Bangladesh, and the meditation (based on Matthew 25:31:46) at www.bmsworldmission.org/harvest2008.
