Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters

“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days…He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap…In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6)

Robin was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. She was a nurse’s aid and “loved it”. She was 40 years old when she moved in with her elderly parents. She knew her lung cancer would eventually result in her needing their help. She was petite, about 4’10” tall and weighed about 90 pounds. Her parents referred to her as their “little girl” and our nurses described her as “so cute”. I agree with both. She was vital, full of energy. She could talk ninety miles a minute, and when she did, her father would just glance towards me, grin and shake his head. She didn’t look old enough to have a 25-year-old daughter, but she did.

Robin seldom talked with her daughter in Columbus, and she hadn’t seen her for over three years. She explained that her daughter resented her for not attending her wedding. Robin admitted, “I should have been there for her, but I was afraid of seeing her father.” She had reasons. Her x-husband was a drug addict, was still using, and had a history of being verbally abusive. Consequently, Robin imagined all that could go wrong. She “observed the wind”, “regarded the clouds” and did not “sow’. She stayed home.

Robin shared that her daughter was expecting her first child soon and that she’d received an invitation to the baby shower. But since her x-husband and his family would surely be there, she questioned whether she should attend. Robin started observing the wind and regarding the clouds again; “What if they all ignore me?” “What if he starts something?” I was really worried that Robin would again allow the “What ifs” to rob her of another opportunity, a chance, this second chance, to restore her relationship with her daughter.

On the way to my next visit with Robin I pulled off the road and prayed, “Lord, What does Robin need to hear? Give me wisdom. Guide our conversation today.” Immediately Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 came to mind and I was confident that the verse was for her. So Robin and I read it together. We talked about how seaport merchants in Bible times used the colloquialism, “Cast your bread upon the water” to refer to taking a risk; to loading their goods upon a ship and setting sail to see what would happen. We talked about how we also have to take risks in order to grow; and how we’ll never act if we wait for the “perfect time”. We talked about how we really “don’t know” how things will turn out; about how we expend time and emotional energy worrying about things that may never happen. Then Robin decided, “I’m going!” She decided to “cast her bread upon the waters”.

The following week Robin returned with a report of a wonderful time with her daughter and her in-laws; “Everyone was so nice to me. My x-mother-in-law treated me like I was one of her children. My x-husband spent most of the time by him self, pouting. They said, ‘Just let him be that way if he want’s to.’” When I witnessed Robin’s joy over her reconciliation with her daughter, my soul silently celebrated, “Thank you Lord! You’re so good. Your word and your ways are so true.”

So, the next time you find yourself, “observing the wind” and “regarding the clouds”, remember Robin. Don’t let the fears of what “might happen”, rob you of what “could happen”. Become willing to risk and “cast your bread upon the waters”. Take the plunge and enter the adventure of living.

“People are like turtles. They don’t move forward until they stick their necks out.”

(Part two of Dru and Gene’s story will resume next week)