Richard McChurch always made a concerted effort to be a good public witness to the Gospel, the Church Universal, and the Legion of Invisible Witnesses – to whomever the book of Hebrews was referring – and the angels and archangels whenever he was in public.
“I might be the only Bible someone ever reads,” was something he often said. “I’ll be God with skin on,” was another.
Even though it was sometimes a source of embarrassment to others, Richard always closed his eyes, held the hands of whomever he was sharing a meal, and prayed out loud, very specifically: “God bless the very food and bless the very hands that prepared it, Lord, and in the very name of Jesus.”
Richard held firmly to the belief that you could never know who was watching. You never know the possible consequence of a public display of gratitude with the rampant onslaught of secularism that was consuming the nation.
Richard seldom ate alone. Meals were opportunities. Meals were a very Biblical way to witness.
One day Richard grabbed a quick meal at a fast food outlet near his office. While unwrapping his whopping triple-burger, burger — hold the cheese to reduce the calories — boldness overtook him and he decided to pray out loud even though he was dining alone.
“Almighty God,” he bellowed.
“Yes, Richard. You called My name,” said God.
“Well, I was just about to ask You to bless this food and to bless the very hands that prepared it.”
“Bless? Richard. What exactly do you mean? Would you like me to reduce the fat content so it won’t clog your arteries or would you like me to do a little divine angioplasty while you are eating? Bless? I mean look, Richard. You are doing the dietary equivalent of a free-fall off a high-rise building, and, and asking me to ‘bless’ your fall.”
“I get it, God. I think. Could you at least bless the hands that prepared it?”
“That’s up to you,” replied God.
“What do you mean?”
“Blessing others is up to you. That’s what I mean. Go to the counter and ‘bless’ the woman who served you. Take out your wallet. Give her all the money in it. That will ‘bless’ her.”
“God, You know sometimes You can be….”
“Yes. I know Richard. I can be so awfully practical, so downright unspiritual.”
“Are you making fun of me?”
“No Richard, I am having fun with you. Now don’t change the subject…… go ahead and ‘bless’ that dear woman who helped you.”
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