There were more than 5,000 hungry people at the unplanned ­picnic. Five thousand people but nary a bite of food. How could this be? 

A brave little boy surveyed his basket: five small barley loaves and two small fish. Did no one else in this crowd think to bring anything? Did they hoard it for themselves? Withhold it out of shame, knowing its meagerness against the mountainous need? 

I’m curious to know how Jesus’ disciple, Andrew, found the little boy in such a large crowd. Did the child step to the front — too small to know shame — holding out what he had? 

If so, how was it that Andrew allowed for that? Took that seemingly foolish offering to Jesus? Didn’t dismiss the small child, small bread, small fish, simple faith (John 6:1-14)?

Be who you are. Bring what you have. 

The above invitation has been ringing in my ears. I find it sums up the early church experience, starting with Jesus and the fellowship he formed. 

When I recently read Romans 12:6-8, it was there, too, standing on the sidelines and shouting my name: Be who you are. Bring what you have.  

The passage in Romans speaks of the variety of gifts we, the body of Christ, have to offer. “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given us,” it says, “each of us is to use them accordingly” (Romans 12:6, Amplified Bible). 

Let us use them. Like the boy with the basket and the bread. 

The scripture goes on to name the given gifts: prophecy, practical service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, showing mercy. In each instance, there is a repeated refrain: Let us use them. 

I think of the little child leading the way, holding out hands and a small bit of hope instead of hoarding the only thing he had. 

I think also of Andrew opening the way for this offering to come forth. Was he recalling that time he and others had tried to bar the children from coming to Jesus? 

“Jesus was irate,” we’re told, “and let them know it: ‘Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me’ ” (Mark 10:14, Message). 

So this time, did Andrew’s pride step aside as he let this little one in? Not to be blessed, but rather to offer a blessing? 

Ah, but isn’t that the biggest blessing of all? To contribute? To matter? To be allowed to be who you are and bring what you have instead of being barred? Now we’re talking! 

The reality is, we’re not always who others want us to be. Goodness, we’re not always who we want us to be, either. But in God’s kingdom we are invited, time and again, to be entirely who we are and bring whatever we have to give. 

I think of the woman at the well, invited, as the outcast she was, to give Jesus a drink. The prostitute, welcomed to wash Jesus’ feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. The widow giving her mite. All allowed to be who they were and give what they had. 

I think of Mary pouring out the prized and precious oil and Jesus’ defense of her: “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me” (Mark 14:6). 

Let them, I can hear Jesus say. Let them! Stop policing the who and the what, the where or the why. Let them be, and let them bring. 

I wonder how we, like the disciple Andrew, can open avenues for people in this way? I remember doing gifts surveys: After answering a number of questions, we’d be told what gift was ours to bring: wisdom, serving, encouraging, giving. Then there were the fivefold ministry gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. 

But what about the gift of bread bringer, foot washer, perfume pourer, water dipper? 

How might we be an Andrew who sees the gift and doesn’t despise the giver — who opens the way and ushers others in? How might we be a little child, unashamed to hold out what we have, even if it’s meager against the mountainous need? How can we stop preventing and start permitting, both ourselves and others, to be who we are and bring what we have? 

All are welcome. All are a part. All have a place and a piece to give. What is yours? Be who you are. Bring what you have. It is gloriously enough.