Bread of Life

"Look at this, Pastor. Here's my sexy carrot." Now those are not the words you would expect to come out of a beautiful six year old. But instead of being shocked or confused, I immediately busted out laughing because I knew she had been listening to my Easter sermon. (BTW ... her Sunday School teachers were not there for that sermon, so they didn't know what to do with the student with the plastic veggtable which she called her sexy carrot.) Instead of trying to hop from the story of Peter Cottontail to the empty tomb, I chose to use follow down a different bunny tale that day. I used the story of "Don the Rabbit" from Donald Miller's book "Blue Like Jazz" to make a point as we talked about rebuilding life from the ground up through the resurrection of Christ.

Donald Miller had created this cartoon story of Don the Rabbit and his pursuit of "sexy carrot" as a parallel to all the things we chase in life. We believe they will give us life, but in reality, they can lead to our dimize. Now I'm not sure that this kindergartener really understood all the implications of this rabbit chasing this carrot, but it stuck in her young mind (and I know it was a great topic of discussion and lesson for her parents to build on with her).

I love that cartoon because it hits home for others, and of course, in my own driveway. I find myself using the words "I need" when I should really be saying: "I want." I don't "need" another guitar, a new Camaro, a nicer home, or even to find the best Mexican restaurant in every city I visit, but I want all of them and more. In reality, any of these things can easily become my personal sexy carrots to pursue even if they mean I throw myself in their direction with more passion than I do when it comes to God.

And it's that very truth that led me to write "Bread of Life" back in 2003. I honestly don't remember the exact date I began writing this song. I know this title of Jesus was coming up in a sermon series and I was spending time in John 6 far in advance to let my thoughts and impressions form in my heart long before I would begin writing the sermon. I reflected on the connection of this phrase used by Jesus with the story of God feeding His people "manna" from the sky in the wilderness in the book of Exodus. Instead of daily receiving God's gift of bread and life, the people began to try to hord it and store it away "just in case" the free food supply stopped as inexplicably as it began (despite Moses' warning not to do so). I laughed - recalling how it spoiled on the second day.

Jesus then speaks of himself being the "Bread of Life" come down from heaven. And yet, once again the self-centered nature of people bubbled to the surface. They wanted their bread king - their personal shopper from the sky would could miraculously provide them with what they needed, or should I say, what they wanted.

And right there in that moment, I knew I had that same spirit of entitlement dwelling deep in my own soul. The world of the Kingdom of God came crashing into the world of my selfishness, and the chokehold of sin needed to be ripped away from my heart. The invitation of Christ to come and eat this bread of life - surely a foreshadowing of the holy meal we share as Christians - is what this famished man needed and still needs today. Throw away your plastic sexy carrots. Our heavenly Father is drawing you in for a real feast of wine and bread.

Production Notes: When I first presented this song to the musicians at Divine Shepherd, Aaron Bressman was on drums that weekend. As usual, Aaron had a great feel for what I was looking for as we flesh out the song musically. So when we recorded this song, I knew I wanted him behind the drum kit. But it wasn't until the recording sessions that Steve came up with the electric guitar riffs that makes the song soar even higher musically. Add in the high harmonies of Aaron and it captures the passionate cry to the One who is the Bread of Life who is truly "manna for my soul."