In my novel, A Sense of Mission, the orphaned Kaitlin, just entering adolescence, explains why she has a hard time trusting the good times in her life. Influenced by the tragedy of her parents’ deaths, she says it’s “like some—monster—some weird creature from Lord of the Rings or something. Standing at this door that’s cracked half open. He’s staring at me while I’m feasting at a banquet.” She’s always scared they’ll disappear, as some of her good times did when her parents were killed.

Nothing is wrong with enjoying an occasional banquet. Jesus enjoyed banquets, even as he journeyed toward the cross.

Nevertheless, if we have experienced a true banquet, with people we love and enjoy being with, we may understand how powerful is the system that opposes the kinds of banquets Jesus talked about—those for the poor and hungry and imprisoned.

Ultimately, it isn’t about consumer spending or making America great or how many toys we can accumulate before we die. It’s about seeking to do good, even understanding that good may be overwhelmed at times.