It’s the leftovers of life that are important. These are the bits that we so easily discard and conveniently overlook. After feeding the five thousand with the five loaves and few fish Jesus instructed that the leftovers be gathered up and they amounted to twelve baskets. In the divine economy nothing needs to be wasted and everything can be used unto good. We can all look at our lives and see times of disappointment, episodes of hurt, serious loss and many failures. These we are inclined to overlook and leave behind like the flotsam and jetsam of life. If we leave them as rubbish they become the legacy of another generation who will have to pick up after us. On the other hand all these negatives hold the potential for learning and growth. If we take the trouble to gather them up they provide us with rich baskets overflowing with wisdom that can sustain us for the rest of our lives.