Like so many I have been lured into the "Hunger Games" following. One of the things most fascinating to me is the "silver parachutes" or gifts to the contestants from their sponsors. Literally fighting for their lives the time comes when a particular thing is needed to continue to survive. The arrival of a "silver parachute" is dependent upon your relationship with those who sponsor you and how appealing your story is to the viewers. In other words if you don't excite and capture the audience you are unlikely to receive much support from a sponsor. It's curious to see how and when contestants garner the favor and receive a gift.
The twist comes when you receive a silver parachute out of pure grace. You did not ask and yet you receive. You might even receive the gift from an unknown source. A loaf of freshly baked bread could come from some act of kindness you have bestowed on another contestant whom you are supposed to be ready to destroy. The story includes the reluctance to befriend knowing in the end only one will remain standing. However the heart pushes some to relent into a giving nature rather than a taking one.
What if we saw our lives as those who were commissioned to do acts of kindness, sending silver parachutes to some we do not know, or even giving away to one who appears unworthy. Is there not one among us who has not longed for some act of grace and kindness thinking surely we are not worthy but want it just the same? And how do we accept a silver parachute from a stranger?
Of course we are not fighting for our lives. Or are we? We follow a God who does not care about ratings or even how we appear on the field. A God whom lovingly accepts us as we are and sends us gifts of grace which surprise us and delight us. We are only asked to love one another the same way. Silver parachutes...how many have you sent lately?
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