Wednesday, May 22, 2019

“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” (Psalm 34: 8, New Living Translation) 

                Instead of a security blanket, our fourteen-month old grandson, Declan, has invested his trust in a wooden spoon which he carries about wherever he goes. I suppose that I could make a crack about not trusting in wooden idols, but actually I like his moxie!

                I see a lot of symbolism in his choice. For example, perhaps he will become a great chef someday or maybe a food critic or own a restaurant. But that only scratches the surface.

                Even more so, I think it could mean that he is ready to feast on all the world has to offer, all its beauty, joys, celebrations, festivities and bounty that surrounds him. He is anticipating and prepared for the banquet that can be life itself. He is hungry for Creation’s goodness, satisfaction, enjoyments and delights.  His old grandpa hopes he will never become a ravenous, greedy, gluttonous consumer but rather he will be always someone who can feast with thanksgiving, appreciation and humility on the abundance that God may give to any of us.

                “Give us our daily bread.” Declan has come prepared!

                It reminds me of that soup-for-the soul sort of story about the terminally-ill woman who told her pastor that along with her bible she also wanted to be buried with a fork in her hand. The woman’s explanation was as follows: “Because over the years, I attended many a potluck at this parish. And every time the people came to take my dinner plate, they would tell me to keep my fork for the dessert. Them telling me to keep my fork was always my favorite part of the dinner, because it always meant that something better was coming. I know that I don’t have long, but I know in my heart that something better is coming…”

                I don’t think we just have to wait until the joys of heaven feed our beings. I also think that there is a here-and-now quality to the nourishing blessings which may come our way. At its best, life can be savoury, a feast for our senses, a sacred joy, a gift, especially when we give ourselves away and not become stingy, selfish, materialistic consumers. “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” (Luke 6:38, NLT)

                For sure, life sometimes leaves a bitter taste and seems less than fulfilling. There is real hunger and poverty in our country and the world where having enough daily bread is a challenge for families. For some, their lives seem more empty than not. Others are never satisfied, no matter what. Some measure fulfillment by the money, power, privilege and success they can accrue. There is that old saying, each according to their own individual tastes.

                The Bible suggests a different way. The first book of the Bible, Genesis, speaks with bold imagery as to the beauty and bounty of Creation for humankind: “Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.’ Then God said, ‘Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food...’  And that is what happened. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!”  (Genesis 1:28 – 29, 30 -31, NLT)

                And if all that goodness at hand  doesn’t make you want to pick up a spoon or fork, at least every now and then, to taste and see that the Lord is good and so is life, in order to discover the combined bounty of love, joy, happiness, satisfaction, and nurture, then  get yourself immediately into line for God’s “food-bank”, a cornucopia of his Love, Grace, Mercy and Justice.  God has no appetite for you to go hungry - spiritually, physically or relationally.

                But you’ve got to pick up your spoon!

Dale