Bread and Butter

"I am the bread of life," Jesus says in today's Gospel reading (John 6:48).

This or that activity is our "bread and butter," we say, especially when we talk about a fundamental task or attitude that also contributes the most to our success.

My bread and butter are presenting software solutions and preaching (tasks) and traveling lightly (an attitude).

What I do -- whether it's for my company's hospital clients or for the members of my congregation or for the readers of this blog -- is articulate a vision that I hope will capture other people's imaginations, and how I do it (when I'm at my best) is with a light heart and an even lighter carry-on bag.

The light of comprehension during a presentation, or a good question at coffee hour, or a thoughtful argument from a colleague ... the smile or joke from someone I encounter at the rental car return or the TSA security line ... these tell me that the bread and butter tastes good, like manna was supposed to taste.

What are your "bread and butter" activities? How do you invite people to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8)?