Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
- Mark 6:39
 
This little beat in the story of the feeding of the 5000 always sticks out to us.
 
Throughout Mark’s narrative, the story moves rapidly and skips over lots and lots of details. Mark has a lot to say and doesn’t want to waste ink on color. And then you have “green grass.” Jesus breaks the big crowd up into smaller groups. They rest on the green grass together in the wilderness while God works a miracle to feed them.
 
That green grass stands as a vivid symbol of God’s desire to create spaces for us to connect and thrive.
 
Our world is thirsty for “green grass,” for places where people can sit down together and connect with each other in meaningful ways. We spend so much time in crowds and anonymous or so much time alone and busy. To have a space to connect more closely can be so precious.
 
As you take stock of this new year, where are the patches of green grass that God’s provided for you? Where do you see spaces to connect more closely with a community? What changes in your life do you need to make in order to fully “sit down” and experience what God wants you to experience in that space?