Gleaning Today

Yesterday, the Lenten Series at All Souls Church Knoxville had a brief presentation on food and its current relationship to justice issues. During the time, we discussed issues presented in media like Fast Food Nation, Food Inc., The Omnivores Dilemma and from the book Everyday Justice. During the discussion, the question of gleaning came up and I was wondering what that mean in today's culture. It would seem that many a man's business in biblical times was farming; however, there are few farmers today. So, as an attorney, as a doctor or nurse, as a teacher or as a clerk, what does that look like? Where do we leave something untouched in our lives for someone else to take for themselves, no questions asked? Certainly, we can have our own "farms" or rather gardens and contribute part of our produce to someone who might need and appreciate it. Perhaps, this is one way for us to look at everyday justice in a small, personal way.