I was in a bible study the other day. I was thinking about food but that wasn't what the study was about. I don't do well sitting and listening. My eyes were looking and my ears were listening but I wasn't hearing. Have you ever been in a meeting and you realize you've not heard much in the last 10 minutes? Imagine having that realization 5 times an hour. Now your listening in my shoes. Besides, I was thinking about food and since I'd skipped breakfast....
Quick, favorite food? I know, lots to choose from but what would you choose if it was your last meal? I mean you gotta go dessert, right? Sure, eat the meal but the last thing that goes down before you check out is the dessert. Mine is pound cake. Batter. I was a kid once and one of the glorious privileges of childhood is licking the beaters after your mom makes a cake. Awesome. The bowl was ok but mom usually scraped it pretty good so there wasn't much left. I always wanted to do the mixing so I could stop the mixer while the beaters were still buried deep in the batter. Then slowly pull them out as to not let much drip off. Glorious! The nightmare of course is when you get there too late and the beaters are out and she's SCRAPING THEM WITH THE SPATULA!!! Why do mom's DO that??? Torture. I've learned something as an adult. If I make pound cake, I don't have to stop at licking the beaters. It's MY cake and I can eat right out of the bowl!! And I do! I've actually eaten almost the whole bowl. Lot's of times. We all need a hobby. That's a cup of butter, half cup Crisco, 3 cups sugar, 3 cups flour, 5 eggs and a cup of milk. And a quart of milk to wash it down with. That's living.
The food I hate the most though was what I was thinking about during the bible study. The study was on faith. She asked the question " on a scale of 1-10 where do you rate your faith level?" Hummm. Depends on whether you want me to actually USE it or not. If you mean faith to believe in God and that He loves me then it's a 9 or 10. It's kind of like the faith I have in my truck. I know it's there and it'll turn on and go. I hardly think about it. Maybe we're all kinda like that. But you put me in another kind of vehicle, say a carnival roller coaster and maybe I think more about its trustworthiness. Especially as I look at the toothless grin of the Deliverance reject who put the thing together. I still get on though, despite the tinge of fear. How 'bout a rocket car? Pictures of Steve Austin tumbling down the runway fill my mind. Pass, too scary. I'll just drive my truck. I can control that. No faith needed.
Mustard. That's the food I hate the most. I know, I know, mustard's not technically a "food" but the Reagan Administration said ketchup was so there we go. I hate the smell. I hate the look. I hate hate hate the taste. I can't even touch the bottle. If you want it passed at the table I'll push it toward you with a stick. Then burn the stick. Wont eat things that MIGHT have it in it. Check your BBQ sauces. Those sneaky son of a guns sometimes slip it in there.(The "son of a guns" refer to the International Mustard Cartel. Part of the Taliban.) I once threw a rubber snake on a dear woman who hates snakes. She screamed, jumped around in terror and cried like a baby. I still feel bad. My brother threw mustard on me and I reacted the same way. Then I beat the crap out of him. He's still not sorry.
The only mustard I want to be associated with is the mustard seed. You know, the faith kind. I want to have it. Not only to just have it but to use it. I don't know, do you really have it if you don't use it? Is it kind of like having a wad of cash in a mason jar? If it's just in the jar it's just a wad of paper, of no value until you use it. And what if I miss my opportunity to use it? What if my long coveted gas grill is on sale at half price today and I know I should buy but I hesitate and look at my jar of money and POOF the grill's not on sale anymore. I eventually buy a grill,not the one I wanted, and people have missed out on my exquisite grilling skills (it's a nice dream so don't mess it up) all because I was what? Afraid? Not wanting to look the fool? Waiting for the voice from Heaven saying "Buy you dummy, there'll never be a better price". Probably lots of reasons. I just know, more often than not, I don't spend the faith. Because I don't have it? Haven't figured that one out.
So here's my feeble mustard seed prayer: " You are trust worthy. I know You are 'cause You said so but to be honest sometimes You don't seem to pay attention. How many times do I hear of people begging You for something, they've got their heads bowed, teeth gritted and quoting scripture and nothing happens and they crash in flames. Your fault? I don't know. You said it rains on the just and unjust. Maybe that's just life in a fallen world. But You ARE faithful. I have to believe You care. I have to believe You tell me stuff I can rely on and be confident that if I do it You'll hold up your end of the deal. I'm so sorry I'm weak and am so concerned with my image instead of yours. Hey, can we do this? Would You to tell me something tomorrow I can do for You. My hope and intent is that I'll be a man of mustard seed faith and change maybe just a little part of my world. Plant that seed and make it grow.I so want to be a man who pleases You and looks like You as I walk around. Please forgive me when I whine and complain as You do this. I know I asked for it. And You do it so well. Thanks Dad. I love you."
Sounds good, doesn't it? Well, I'll let you know....
