The Burrito Lesson

I was reminded recently of an interaction with a stranger in the car park of a Mexican restaurant near Point Loma in California many years ago.  After enjoying some carne asada burritos, an impromptu game of hacky-sack broke out in the carpark between a few university-aged friends and myself.  A man approached our circle, not to join in with our clumsy game, but to ask for money to buy a burrito because he was hungry.

We looked at each other hesitantly because we weren't certain the man was telling us the truth.  So after a brief back and forth we agreed we would be happy to buy him the burrito he asked for.  He immediately began backpedalling on his initial request.  "I'm more hungry than I thought," he said, "and I'm gonna need something that really sticks to my ribs.  A burrito ain't enough.  I need money for the carne asada combo plate."  Ah, now the motivation became clear!  It seemed the man had a hunger a burrito could not satisfy.  We mused, "If you're really hungry, why would you turn down the burrito you asked for?  A burrito was enough for each of us.  Seems like it's the money you're after and not the burrito."  The man insisted he was hungry and would spend the money on the combo plate, but in the end he walked away from the offer of a carne asada burrito because it wasn't quite enough food for his ravenous appetite.

This was a case when actions spoke truer than words.  Had the man hungrily inhaled the first burrito, I have no doubt we would have given him a second or even a third just to see him mow through them!  But the man's actions spoke of a person who had his heart set on receiving money to spend on something other than a burrito.  His request for a burrito was dishonest from the start because he had an ulterior motive:  to use the request for a burrito to collect money to spend on something else.  The man insisted he was on the level, but his actions said something completely different.  It was only by us offering to provide the burrito it brought awareness that is was never about buying carne asada burritos or combo plates:  it was about money.

This is good for Christians to keep in mind when people (Christians or not) ask us questions on matters of faith.  We can be frustrated when we do the equivalent of supplying the burrito as requested and it is rejected as unsatisfactory because it was not enough.  No amount of burritos will ever be sufficient when one does not want a burrito in the first place!  In these situations, more important than answering the question is to address the questioner to see what their motivation is in asking.  With God's help we are best equipped to ascertain the heart of the matter and be guided in His wise ways in how to lovingly respond--even when someone is the victim of their own dishonesty and left empty.  In due time hunger pangs may bring them back for a burrito, and it will be a joy to share a meal with a truly hungry soul.