Posted by Michelle
Well, here we are... the first day of the last week of the food month. I thought I would never get here! The past 3 weeks have stretched me just as much as I knew they would. This month has exposed my weaknesses AND showed me how strong my God is. Amazing how that works!
So far I have had 3 meltdowns. One per week. The 1st one was mostly because I didn't think I could get through this month. My cravings for other foods, not on the list, were too strong! I felt like a failure before I really even got going. The second meltdown was after my eyes were opened and my sin was exposed. I became frighteningly aware of how much I run to food instead of God. I already knew this, but the fast meant that I really had to deal with it. That is why this month in particular was so scary and yet so important for me. Before we even started this fast, I knew the food month would be the most significant. That's why we chose to do it first. I knew that I carried "chains" in this area, and I have been carrying them for a very, very long time. Actually, I've carried them for as long as I can remember.
Even when I was in elementary school, I remember throwing my lunch in the trash because I felt awkward eating in front of my friends. This carried on into middle school and high school where I would often starve myself all day at school. Then, at night when my parents were asleep, I would sneak food out of the pantry and eat in my room. I was hungry because I had only eaten dinner that day. And at this time of night, I was by myself. I didn't have to feel insecure. However, this behavior was a false sense of security. My body never cooperated with what I was trying to accomplish by starving myself at school. All this did was deepen a very unhealthy relationship with food and deepen a very unhealthy hatred of my body. When I was a kid, my parents didn't know much about eating disorders. But that's exactly what I had. I was never underweight, I wasn't throwing up, and I wasn't 300 pounds. So, I didn't look or act (in front of others) like a kid with an eating disorder. Plus, there was no Google to look up symptoms! I could go into great detail about reasons why I have carried the chains of "Eating Disorder" and "Body Hatred" for so long. I could tell you all about my biological mother and her addictions and abandonment. (For those who don't know, Vickie is actually my step-mom. But she raised me and I call her "Mom"). But that's another post for another day.
This all brings me to my 3rd meltdown. It was Thursday night. This one was triggered by fear. A fear that I was wasting this fast and would come out of it having not accomplished anything except sticking to a list of foods. I could have done a fad diet plan for that! I was afraid I would end up not doing anything I was really supposed to do... and ruin it. I felt like a failure. I was afraid I would still be carrying around the same chains with no real change. That everything would go back to the way it was. Through my husband's encouraging words, God reminded me that I don't have to DO anything to GET him to break chains! It's a gift. It's what he does! Am I still afraid that I will just pick them back up again?? Of course! But I know that they will never be locked onto me again. I have to choose everyday to drop them and not pick them up. This gift of freedom can be scary sometimes because I keep thinking I could screw it up. And I might... but God never gives up on me. He is always there to remind me that I am already free.
This is a video with the lyrics from the song, "The Gift" by Seether. I don't know if Shaun Morgan is a Christian or not, but this song is EXACTLY how I have felt and what I have said to God. (And it's a beautiful song!) Listen.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Simplifying The Skeltons Month One/Day Eighteen
Posted by Grant
Please note: This entry scratches the surface of several complex issues. I will readdress them and delve deeper in the future. For now, enjoy and reflect.
I used to think I understood the meaning of words like "wealth," "prosperity," and "value." I comprehend dictionary definitions, but my understanding of these terms has grown immensely since I have been married. I understood these words solely in a financial or monetary context. But they mean much more. Let me explain.
Michelle and I included in previous posts the fact that before we began this fast, neither of us really paid much attention to the ingredients in our food. We never asked where it came from or what was in it. We've also found that many foods that are marketed as "healthy," "natural," or "low calorie" may be even worse for you. Just because something has 0 carbohydrates doesn't mean you're in the clear. How much salt is in it? How much high fructose corn syrup is in it? Is it really food that came from the ground, or was it invented in a Petri dish? Furthermore, Michelle and I also found that many of the "preservatives" put into food actually contribute to hunger. So your body will crave food sooner than it would. You eat more. And then you eat more, and yet you are never completely full or satisfied for very long. It seems like no matter how much you gorge, that hunger just can't be kept at bay. This is because, though you have been eating, you have not been nourishing. Anyone can eat, and we've been doing that our whole lives. We're learning to nourish our bodies, but what about our souls? This is what I mean when I spoke of wealth, prosperity, and value.
How is a man to quantify his wealth? What terms or units of measure should he employ? At work, I see how money or the lack thereof will drive an ordinarily normal person to obscene acts of utter barbarism. I have seen families become cruel and quarrel over money. The rich expect entitlement and service from the police. The poor expect, at best, apathy. I do not feel like I make a lot of money. What I do earn puts my wife and I in the richest 85% in the world. By world standards I am wealthy. I have eaten some strange meals when I was broke. But "broke" and "indigent" are not the same thing. If we look at it in terms of the fact that I have a beautiful, godly wife that loves me unconditionally and forgives me frequently for my even more frequent sins. A woman that encourages me daily with her words and affirmations, and serves me with her time and efforts. In that regard, I am the wealthiest man I know.
What does this mean for you? Does your house have more "value" than your marriage? Is your car "worth" more than your relationship with your Creator? Are you poor in spirit and rich in money?
Please note: This entry scratches the surface of several complex issues. I will readdress them and delve deeper in the future. For now, enjoy and reflect.
I used to think I understood the meaning of words like "wealth," "prosperity," and "value." I comprehend dictionary definitions, but my understanding of these terms has grown immensely since I have been married. I understood these words solely in a financial or monetary context. But they mean much more. Let me explain.
Michelle and I included in previous posts the fact that before we began this fast, neither of us really paid much attention to the ingredients in our food. We never asked where it came from or what was in it. We've also found that many foods that are marketed as "healthy," "natural," or "low calorie" may be even worse for you. Just because something has 0 carbohydrates doesn't mean you're in the clear. How much salt is in it? How much high fructose corn syrup is in it? Is it really food that came from the ground, or was it invented in a Petri dish? Furthermore, Michelle and I also found that many of the "preservatives" put into food actually contribute to hunger. So your body will crave food sooner than it would. You eat more. And then you eat more, and yet you are never completely full or satisfied for very long. It seems like no matter how much you gorge, that hunger just can't be kept at bay. This is because, though you have been eating, you have not been nourishing. Anyone can eat, and we've been doing that our whole lives. We're learning to nourish our bodies, but what about our souls? This is what I mean when I spoke of wealth, prosperity, and value.
How is a man to quantify his wealth? What terms or units of measure should he employ? At work, I see how money or the lack thereof will drive an ordinarily normal person to obscene acts of utter barbarism. I have seen families become cruel and quarrel over money. The rich expect entitlement and service from the police. The poor expect, at best, apathy. I do not feel like I make a lot of money. What I do earn puts my wife and I in the richest 85% in the world. By world standards I am wealthy. I have eaten some strange meals when I was broke. But "broke" and "indigent" are not the same thing. If we look at it in terms of the fact that I have a beautiful, godly wife that loves me unconditionally and forgives me frequently for my even more frequent sins. A woman that encourages me daily with her words and affirmations, and serves me with her time and efforts. In that regard, I am the wealthiest man I know.
What does this mean for you? Does your house have more "value" than your marriage? Is your car "worth" more than your relationship with your Creator? Are you poor in spirit and rich in money?
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Simplifying the Skeltons! Month One/Day Twelve
Posted by Grant
Just when Michelle and I thought we were getting the hang of this, things started getting difficult around day 8. After church on Sunday, we drove to Republic Coffee with our lunchboxes. Eat some homemade food with a delicious hot tea from a local business? Yes please! In my mind, I had it all figured out. It was a beautiful spring day, we had plenty of time to kill. We'll just stroll right in, get us a table, chat about the sermon, sip some tea. Michelle will drop me off, we'll kiss goodbye, and that will be that. It was my Friday after all. Why shouldn't things go exactly like this? Unbeknownst to me, this would not go as I had planned.
Michelle and I got out of our car and walked in. I had both lunchboxes and water bottles. We walked inside and were greeted by a friendly-looking gentleman in his early 40's. He took us to our table. As he was placing the menus on it, I smiled and politely informed him of our intentions.
Me: "Thank you. But we don't need those. We brought our lunch."
Server: "We don't allow outside food."
Me: (laughing) "I'm sorry. What I meant to say was, we're not occupying your table as nonpaying customers. We're ordering tea. We just won't be ordering any food, because we brought our own."
Server: "We don't allow outside food."
Without warning, I felt a tidal wave of anger come over me. In less than a second I had gone from happy to enraged. I began to have malicious thoughts about this man, whom I had never met. I began to have thoughts about what four letter word I shout at him him next. Thankfully, I kept my mouth shut. But that wasn't the worst of it. Michelle apologized to him for me as I gathered up our belongings and we left. As we were getting into our car, I noticed the worried expression on her face.
Me: What?!
Michelle: Don't you ask me "what!" You know exactly what you did.
Me: I didn't do anything!
Michelle: You were staring at him like you wanted him to go to Hell!
When your wife says something to you like this, take heed. We drove over to the Central Library parking lot and ate our meal in a silence as thick as an autumn morning fog. My wife will tell you that I can only pretend that everything is ok for so long. Eventually I crack and the matter must be settled. Such was the case in this instance. I drove back to Republic Coffee, got out and located the server. I offered my hand and apologized to him. He took it, and he smiled at me. He said he hadn't meant to be rude, but that was just their policy. I said no, it was me that had been rude. Because that's how it was. Like a child, I hadn't gotten what I wanted, and I felt justified making my anger known.
This incident taught me a fact about myself that I've known for quite some time, but still don't like to admit. I do not like being inconvenienced. In fact, I hate it. Even at 27, I still want things my way. And I want them now. Not tomorrow. Not 5 minutes from now. Right now. 5 minutes ago. I don't do well with lines, waiting rooms, or stop and go traffic. I want to get in, do what I need to do, and get out. Remember that Burger King slogan from the 90's? "Your way right away." Granted, I'm not as bad at this as I used to be, but it is still very evident in my life and my attitudes about people. I am impatient and I want convenience. Because I have things to do, places to go, people to meet. I'm in a hurry. Because I am important and have important things to do.
My wife recently communicated some real wisdom to me about living like this. Ezekiel the prophet saw men, "with their backs to the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun..." (Ezekiel 8:16, ESV) As postmodern man understands it, a 24 hour day is based on the earth's rotation around the sun. I constantly check my watch, I am obsessed with "saving time,"I don't like being inconvenienced, and have no patience. Essentially this amounts to worshiping the sun, which is idolatry. Most of us think of worship as some sort of organized event, where everyone wears similar attire and bodily prostrates themselves before some stone idol. But not all idols are made of stone. Some are made of flesh, some are made of dreams. In this case, it is a star. Rushing and racing through life never really saved me any time. It only made me more frantic and stressed out. When I did "save time," it was probably 15 minutes. The sun god is not a kind one. This fast has shown me a very important lesson thus far. I am an idolater and I need to repent.
Republic Coffee (http://www.republiccoffeememphis.com), 2924 Walnut Grove Memphis, TN 38111
Just when Michelle and I thought we were getting the hang of this, things started getting difficult around day 8. After church on Sunday, we drove to Republic Coffee with our lunchboxes. Eat some homemade food with a delicious hot tea from a local business? Yes please! In my mind, I had it all figured out. It was a beautiful spring day, we had plenty of time to kill. We'll just stroll right in, get us a table, chat about the sermon, sip some tea. Michelle will drop me off, we'll kiss goodbye, and that will be that. It was my Friday after all. Why shouldn't things go exactly like this? Unbeknownst to me, this would not go as I had planned.
Michelle and I got out of our car and walked in. I had both lunchboxes and water bottles. We walked inside and were greeted by a friendly-looking gentleman in his early 40's. He took us to our table. As he was placing the menus on it, I smiled and politely informed him of our intentions.
Me: "Thank you. But we don't need those. We brought our lunch."
Server: "We don't allow outside food."
Me: (laughing) "I'm sorry. What I meant to say was, we're not occupying your table as nonpaying customers. We're ordering tea. We just won't be ordering any food, because we brought our own."
Server: "We don't allow outside food."
Without warning, I felt a tidal wave of anger come over me. In less than a second I had gone from happy to enraged. I began to have malicious thoughts about this man, whom I had never met. I began to have thoughts about what four letter word I shout at him him next. Thankfully, I kept my mouth shut. But that wasn't the worst of it. Michelle apologized to him for me as I gathered up our belongings and we left. As we were getting into our car, I noticed the worried expression on her face.
Me: What?!
Michelle: Don't you ask me "what!" You know exactly what you did.
Me: I didn't do anything!
Michelle: You were staring at him like you wanted him to go to Hell!
When your wife says something to you like this, take heed. We drove over to the Central Library parking lot and ate our meal in a silence as thick as an autumn morning fog. My wife will tell you that I can only pretend that everything is ok for so long. Eventually I crack and the matter must be settled. Such was the case in this instance. I drove back to Republic Coffee, got out and located the server. I offered my hand and apologized to him. He took it, and he smiled at me. He said he hadn't meant to be rude, but that was just their policy. I said no, it was me that had been rude. Because that's how it was. Like a child, I hadn't gotten what I wanted, and I felt justified making my anger known.
This incident taught me a fact about myself that I've known for quite some time, but still don't like to admit. I do not like being inconvenienced. In fact, I hate it. Even at 27, I still want things my way. And I want them now. Not tomorrow. Not 5 minutes from now. Right now. 5 minutes ago. I don't do well with lines, waiting rooms, or stop and go traffic. I want to get in, do what I need to do, and get out. Remember that Burger King slogan from the 90's? "Your way right away." Granted, I'm not as bad at this as I used to be, but it is still very evident in my life and my attitudes about people. I am impatient and I want convenience. Because I have things to do, places to go, people to meet. I'm in a hurry. Because I am important and have important things to do.
My wife recently communicated some real wisdom to me about living like this. Ezekiel the prophet saw men, "with their backs to the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun..." (Ezekiel 8:16, ESV) As postmodern man understands it, a 24 hour day is based on the earth's rotation around the sun. I constantly check my watch, I am obsessed with "saving time,"I don't like being inconvenienced, and have no patience. Essentially this amounts to worshiping the sun, which is idolatry. Most of us think of worship as some sort of organized event, where everyone wears similar attire and bodily prostrates themselves before some stone idol. But not all idols are made of stone. Some are made of flesh, some are made of dreams. In this case, it is a star. Rushing and racing through life never really saved me any time. It only made me more frantic and stressed out. When I did "save time," it was probably 15 minutes. The sun god is not a kind one. This fast has shown me a very important lesson thus far. I am an idolater and I need to repent.
Republic Coffee (http://www.republiccoffeememphis.com), 2924 Walnut Grove Memphis, TN 38111
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Simplifying the Skeltons! Month One/Day Seven
Posted by Michelle
Here we are, still kicking, as week one of our fast is almost in the bag! Grant has been bugging me all week to write another blogpost and I am finally getting a chance to sit down and do it. This week has been a ride! I feel much better today than I thought I would a week ago. Since today is just a Saturday at home in my pj's... nothing too exciting to report... I'll give a recap of the most memorable parts of our first week.
The hardest but most incredible day was definitely Monday! First, I woke up with a KILLER headache! Grant and I had a busy day ahead. So, we got up and ate a big breakfast of eggs, turkey bacon, oatmeal, and a banana. (No coffee...) We are learning that if we have a big breakfast, we have a much easier time following the fast later on in the day. I think it revs up our metabolisms. After errands that morning, we decided to go to lunch a do a little shopping. Now, trying to eat out on a simplicity fast can be VERY tricky! We decided to head to Trolley Stop Market because it is well known for its locally grown/raised organic food. We figured if any place could feed us, they could! We both chose the turkey burger (discarding the bun) and a cup of lentil soup. Great idea, right? I thought so too... By the time I got my food, my head was pounding and I was craving anything and everything! I opened up my bun, started to dig into my burger, and was NOT pleased! We normally love Trolley Stop, but I found out quickly that I do not like their turkey burger! And the soup was not at all what I expected. I will be honest... I started to panic. My head was pounding, my stomach was growling, and the only thing that looked appetizing on my plate was the pickle... which is NOT ON MY LIST!! All I wanted was some coffee, and Chick-Fil-A, and chocolate, and that damn pickle!!! Then my sweet husband humbled me with his generosity and his unending, selfless desire to make me happy. He said, "Let me order you a turkey wrap." He went to the counter and got me turkey, spinach, and avocado all wrapped up in a lovely spinach tortilla! We got it to go and as soon as I hit the car, I devoured the most delicious turkey wrap on the planet. I told Grant how much I love him all the way to Whole Foods, where we got lots of fun, organic, overpriced goodies!
That night, we were invited to have dinner with some dear friends, Stephanie and Matthew. I was even more humbled (beyond belief) when we walked into their home and Stephanie had made a delicious dinner with just the foods on our list! We ate oat-encrusted, Jamaican jerk turkey breast, green beans, carrots, and fresh sliced pineapple. After eating, talking, and laughing together, Steph and Matt asked if they could pray over us for our fast. We sat as our friends laid hands on us and prayed specifically for our strength and endurance, as well as, all the people and situations Grant and I are praying for during the next seven months. We left humbled and completely blown away by the precious friends God has given us and their incredible support.
This week was a roller coaster! The first 3 days were definitely the hardest, especially for me. I went from desperately praying through tough cravings, to happily taking on the challenge of creating yummy dishes from our 12 foods. I can honestly say, sticking to the list is much easier today than is was a week ago... but ask me that again in a couple of weeks when I never want to see another tortilla or carrot ever again!!!
*BTW: Please do not let my panicked experience with Trolley Stop's turkey burger dissuade you from eating there!! It's an awesome place! Definitely one of our faves! :)
Here we are, still kicking, as week one of our fast is almost in the bag! Grant has been bugging me all week to write another blogpost and I am finally getting a chance to sit down and do it. This week has been a ride! I feel much better today than I thought I would a week ago. Since today is just a Saturday at home in my pj's... nothing too exciting to report... I'll give a recap of the most memorable parts of our first week.
The hardest but most incredible day was definitely Monday! First, I woke up with a KILLER headache! Grant and I had a busy day ahead. So, we got up and ate a big breakfast of eggs, turkey bacon, oatmeal, and a banana. (No coffee...) We are learning that if we have a big breakfast, we have a much easier time following the fast later on in the day. I think it revs up our metabolisms. After errands that morning, we decided to go to lunch a do a little shopping. Now, trying to eat out on a simplicity fast can be VERY tricky! We decided to head to Trolley Stop Market because it is well known for its locally grown/raised organic food. We figured if any place could feed us, they could! We both chose the turkey burger (discarding the bun) and a cup of lentil soup. Great idea, right? I thought so too... By the time I got my food, my head was pounding and I was craving anything and everything! I opened up my bun, started to dig into my burger, and was NOT pleased! We normally love Trolley Stop, but I found out quickly that I do not like their turkey burger! And the soup was not at all what I expected. I will be honest... I started to panic. My head was pounding, my stomach was growling, and the only thing that looked appetizing on my plate was the pickle... which is NOT ON MY LIST!! All I wanted was some coffee, and Chick-Fil-A, and chocolate, and that damn pickle!!! Then my sweet husband humbled me with his generosity and his unending, selfless desire to make me happy. He said, "Let me order you a turkey wrap." He went to the counter and got me turkey, spinach, and avocado all wrapped up in a lovely spinach tortilla! We got it to go and as soon as I hit the car, I devoured the most delicious turkey wrap on the planet. I told Grant how much I love him all the way to Whole Foods, where we got lots of fun, organic, overpriced goodies!
That night, we were invited to have dinner with some dear friends, Stephanie and Matthew. I was even more humbled (beyond belief) when we walked into their home and Stephanie had made a delicious dinner with just the foods on our list! We ate oat-encrusted, Jamaican jerk turkey breast, green beans, carrots, and fresh sliced pineapple. After eating, talking, and laughing together, Steph and Matt asked if they could pray over us for our fast. We sat as our friends laid hands on us and prayed specifically for our strength and endurance, as well as, all the people and situations Grant and I are praying for during the next seven months. We left humbled and completely blown away by the precious friends God has given us and their incredible support.
This week was a roller coaster! The first 3 days were definitely the hardest, especially for me. I went from desperately praying through tough cravings, to happily taking on the challenge of creating yummy dishes from our 12 foods. I can honestly say, sticking to the list is much easier today than is was a week ago... but ask me that again in a couple of weeks when I never want to see another tortilla or carrot ever again!!!
*BTW: Please do not let my panicked experience with Trolley Stop's turkey burger dissuade you from eating there!! It's an awesome place! Definitely one of our faves! :)
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Simplifying the Skeltons! Month One/Day Three
Posted by Grant
Growing up, I don't recall my family giving much thought to what exactly was in our food or where it came from. My Dad was the predominant chef in the family, as Mom would always insist that the family didn't eat what she cooked (I disagree with this statement because her fried chicken recipe is culinary perfection.). We had a few family staples (beef stew, Dad spaghetti, hamburgers) but we ate out frequently and fast food was routine. Doritos stole my heart at a young age. I was a skinny kid, so I ate whatever whenever. Those eating patterns carried over into my preteen and teen years.
My senior year of high school, I got a job working at Sherwin-Williams. That was 2002 and if you ask any member of my immediate family, they will tell you that year was the year that changed everything for us. This blog isn't the place for all of the gory details, but if you're still curious feel free to join me for a beer sometime (AFTER this month, mind you) and we'll talk. The abridged version, essentially, is that it was stressful to the point of pain for the entire family and my income was no longer residual - it was necessary. School let out at 2:15 and I had to be at work at 3. If you do the math, you can see that doesn't leave a person time to prepare an adequate and healthy meal. I'd go home, change clothes in about 3.5 seconds and then speed off to McDonald's, Taco Bell, Burger King, or the like. I gained my freshman 15 my senior year of high school.
Of course I did manage to rectify my eating habits in college...if by rectify you mean destroy, desolate, obliterate, or any other number of fun vocabulary words. The college student diet consists of such nutritious ingredients as Ramen Noodles (or Pasta Roni if it's payday), stale store brand soda, Jack-In-The-Box, Krystal, Totino's Pizza, and frozen meat patties that barely pass as hamburgers. I developed an on-again-off-again relationship with the gym, and every now and then attempted to eat "healthy," but one unforeseen life circumstance after another seemed to make that impossible. The changes never stuck. Working security at night for the year or so before I got my current job didn't help matters much either. When the bread, meat, and cheese on your $1.50 microwavable "sandwich" have three separate lists of ingredients, it's time to start asking some questions.
As a man, I don't really think much about my food. I want it, I order it. I crave it, I go get it. I've always thought about it in those terms. Oh sure, when I was on a "diet" I'd count calories, carbohydrates, protein. But I still never considered what was IN the food. Now, I won't attempt to proselytize anyone with PETA-approved horror stories. But after I took some time and looked into what I had been eating all these years, I must say I was astounded. The factory/warehouse model works great if you're building a car, or a computer. But food? By the time it was getting to me, whether from McDonald's or AppleBee's, it was no longer food.
In the month before we started this fast, Michelle and I have done a few things differently. We've made it a point to eat local. In Memphis there are plenty of local eateries that serve delicious food that came from the ground, or from an animal that wasn't injected with so much growth hormone it looked like some kind of deformed grotesque offspring of Cthulu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulu). I'll recommend 2 at the end of this post. We also cut out soda completely. We don't buy it, you won't find it in our fridge. We each have a reusable water bottle (complete with freezer stick) that we take with us every day.
As the head of this household, I will be held accountable for the decisions I make. The habits and patterns that a man develops in his single life will impact his marriage. For most of my life I have seen food as something utilitarian, something to consume and usurp. Not something to savor, to enjoy, relish. Food was best when it was expedient, convenient, and cheap. And yet I would become frustrated when the 17 year old behind the counter who was probably paid less than minimum wage got my order wrong. Think for a moment about that irony.
On the other hand, my wife is a culinary MacGyver. I love her meals, both the innovative and the ordinary, the run-of-the-mill and the experimental. We take time to prepare our meals, we set the table, and we eat together. We are creating a pattern that we want to pass on to our children. Remember what Jesus was doing when the Temple guard came for him? Eating. He was eating. Seated at a table with his closest friends. Jesus liked to eat. In fact, a good many of the gospel accounts of Him either involve food directly or at least mention it. Ask yourself some questions the next time you're at the grocery store, or waiting in line. What's in this? Read the list of ingredients. Can you pronounce any of them?
2 local Memphis eateries you must try:
1. Trolley Stop Market 704 Madison Ave (http://trolleystopmarket.com/)
2. Caritas Village 2509 Harvard Ave (http://www.caritasvillage.org/)
Growing up, I don't recall my family giving much thought to what exactly was in our food or where it came from. My Dad was the predominant chef in the family, as Mom would always insist that the family didn't eat what she cooked (I disagree with this statement because her fried chicken recipe is culinary perfection.). We had a few family staples (beef stew, Dad spaghetti, hamburgers) but we ate out frequently and fast food was routine. Doritos stole my heart at a young age. I was a skinny kid, so I ate whatever whenever. Those eating patterns carried over into my preteen and teen years.
My senior year of high school, I got a job working at Sherwin-Williams. That was 2002 and if you ask any member of my immediate family, they will tell you that year was the year that changed everything for us. This blog isn't the place for all of the gory details, but if you're still curious feel free to join me for a beer sometime (AFTER this month, mind you) and we'll talk. The abridged version, essentially, is that it was stressful to the point of pain for the entire family and my income was no longer residual - it was necessary. School let out at 2:15 and I had to be at work at 3. If you do the math, you can see that doesn't leave a person time to prepare an adequate and healthy meal. I'd go home, change clothes in about 3.5 seconds and then speed off to McDonald's, Taco Bell, Burger King, or the like. I gained my freshman 15 my senior year of high school.
Of course I did manage to rectify my eating habits in college...if by rectify you mean destroy, desolate, obliterate, or any other number of fun vocabulary words. The college student diet consists of such nutritious ingredients as Ramen Noodles (or Pasta Roni if it's payday), stale store brand soda, Jack-In-The-Box, Krystal, Totino's Pizza, and frozen meat patties that barely pass as hamburgers. I developed an on-again-off-again relationship with the gym, and every now and then attempted to eat "healthy," but one unforeseen life circumstance after another seemed to make that impossible. The changes never stuck. Working security at night for the year or so before I got my current job didn't help matters much either. When the bread, meat, and cheese on your $1.50 microwavable "sandwich" have three separate lists of ingredients, it's time to start asking some questions.
As a man, I don't really think much about my food. I want it, I order it. I crave it, I go get it. I've always thought about it in those terms. Oh sure, when I was on a "diet" I'd count calories, carbohydrates, protein. But I still never considered what was IN the food. Now, I won't attempt to proselytize anyone with PETA-approved horror stories. But after I took some time and looked into what I had been eating all these years, I must say I was astounded. The factory/warehouse model works great if you're building a car, or a computer. But food? By the time it was getting to me, whether from McDonald's or AppleBee's, it was no longer food.
In the month before we started this fast, Michelle and I have done a few things differently. We've made it a point to eat local. In Memphis there are plenty of local eateries that serve delicious food that came from the ground, or from an animal that wasn't injected with so much growth hormone it looked like some kind of deformed grotesque offspring of Cthulu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulu). I'll recommend 2 at the end of this post. We also cut out soda completely. We don't buy it, you won't find it in our fridge. We each have a reusable water bottle (complete with freezer stick) that we take with us every day.
As the head of this household, I will be held accountable for the decisions I make. The habits and patterns that a man develops in his single life will impact his marriage. For most of my life I have seen food as something utilitarian, something to consume and usurp. Not something to savor, to enjoy, relish. Food was best when it was expedient, convenient, and cheap. And yet I would become frustrated when the 17 year old behind the counter who was probably paid less than minimum wage got my order wrong. Think for a moment about that irony.
On the other hand, my wife is a culinary MacGyver. I love her meals, both the innovative and the ordinary, the run-of-the-mill and the experimental. We take time to prepare our meals, we set the table, and we eat together. We are creating a pattern that we want to pass on to our children. Remember what Jesus was doing when the Temple guard came for him? Eating. He was eating. Seated at a table with his closest friends. Jesus liked to eat. In fact, a good many of the gospel accounts of Him either involve food directly or at least mention it. Ask yourself some questions the next time you're at the grocery store, or waiting in line. What's in this? Read the list of ingredients. Can you pronounce any of them?
2 local Memphis eateries you must try:
1. Trolley Stop Market 704 Madison Ave (http://trolleystopmarket.com/)
2. Caritas Village 2509 Harvard Ave (http://www.caritasvillage.org/)
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Simplifying the Skeltons! Month One/Day One
Posted by Grant
This is the official inauguration of our fast. Michelle and I went shopping last night and purchased all of our foods. Subsequently, we came home and raided our fridge (in a very different sense). No Ramen noodle packet was safe, no frozen Tupperware overlooked. We cleaned out our fridge and left nothing but the shelves. Then we filled it with our approved foods, a list of which follows below.
We had our final indulgence last night at the Bayou (http://www.bayoubarmemphis.com/), a place that has become one of our favorite Midtown restaurants. The kitchen is open late, and no matter what time we show up on a Friday or Saturday night, we always get a table. I immersed myself in a deep bowl of blackened chicken and shrimp fettuccine (creamy red sun-dried tomato sauce) and also got my first taste of Ghost River beer (http://ghostriverbrewing.com/). I had the seasonal Black Magic and it was the most delicious dark beer I've had in quite some time. Speaking of beer, it isn't on our list of approved foods. Let us take a moment to look over that list.
The Hatmaker approved list, from chapter one of "7":
1. Chicken
2. Spinach
3. Eggs
4. Whole wheat bread
5. Sweet potatoes
6. Avocados
7. Apples
The modified Skelton certified list:
1. Turkey
2. Spinach
3. Bananas
4. Oatmeal
5. Eggs
6. Sweet potatoes
7. Avocados
8. Tortillas
9. Carrots
10. Tomatoes
11. Beans
12. Pineapple
In "7," Jen Hatmaker encourages readers to modify or alternate the plan to fit their own lives. Michelle knows of a couple that tried only the 7 foods from the book (please read it for more information). That method didn't work for them because the husband is a runner and he wasn't getting enough protein. We've made some changes to give ourselves plenty of foods with genuine nutritional value. We're reading ingredients lists and not purchasing foods with ingredients we can't pronounce (maltodeoxyriboflavindextrosiumafolic acid). The only approved beverages are water and tea. This of course excludes my newly found Ghost River beer and coffee. If you've ever spoken to my wife before she's had coffee, you know that you will hear words and syllables you didn't know the human tongue could utter. Likewise I have become dependent on my daily caffeine rush. We'll be stocking up our tea over the next day or so.
To conclude, I want to clarify and define the essence of our motivation. Together, we've read countless books on how to "get it." Every season, every year there's some new pastor/seminary professor/guru/public pundit/talking head that writes a book on how to "get it." It's laden with cool, hip language and metaphors and slang terms. It sells lots of copies and people talk about it for a few years. I do not think "7" is one such book. I believe that Michelle and I are embarking on a journey with our Father that will change and renew us from the inside out. It will show us our spiritual lack, and reveal just how "other" and "foreign" God is to us. How totally and absolutely unlike us He is. This is our real mission. The fast is just the road to walk upon, not the destination.
“And you, take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and emmer, and put them into a single vessel and make your bread from them." - Ezekiel 4:9, ESV
This is the official inauguration of our fast. Michelle and I went shopping last night and purchased all of our foods. Subsequently, we came home and raided our fridge (in a very different sense). No Ramen noodle packet was safe, no frozen Tupperware overlooked. We cleaned out our fridge and left nothing but the shelves. Then we filled it with our approved foods, a list of which follows below.
We had our final indulgence last night at the Bayou (http://www.bayoubarmemphis.com/), a place that has become one of our favorite Midtown restaurants. The kitchen is open late, and no matter what time we show up on a Friday or Saturday night, we always get a table. I immersed myself in a deep bowl of blackened chicken and shrimp fettuccine (creamy red sun-dried tomato sauce) and also got my first taste of Ghost River beer (http://ghostriverbrewing.com/). I had the seasonal Black Magic and it was the most delicious dark beer I've had in quite some time. Speaking of beer, it isn't on our list of approved foods. Let us take a moment to look over that list.
The Hatmaker approved list, from chapter one of "7":
1. Chicken
2. Spinach
3. Eggs
4. Whole wheat bread
5. Sweet potatoes
6. Avocados
7. Apples
The modified Skelton certified list:
1. Turkey
2. Spinach
3. Bananas
4. Oatmeal
5. Eggs
6. Sweet potatoes
7. Avocados
8. Tortillas
9. Carrots
10. Tomatoes
11. Beans
12. Pineapple
In "7," Jen Hatmaker encourages readers to modify or alternate the plan to fit their own lives. Michelle knows of a couple that tried only the 7 foods from the book (please read it for more information). That method didn't work for them because the husband is a runner and he wasn't getting enough protein. We've made some changes to give ourselves plenty of foods with genuine nutritional value. We're reading ingredients lists and not purchasing foods with ingredients we can't pronounce (maltodeoxyriboflavindextrosiumafolic acid). The only approved beverages are water and tea. This of course excludes my newly found Ghost River beer and coffee. If you've ever spoken to my wife before she's had coffee, you know that you will hear words and syllables you didn't know the human tongue could utter. Likewise I have become dependent on my daily caffeine rush. We'll be stocking up our tea over the next day or so.
To conclude, I want to clarify and define the essence of our motivation. Together, we've read countless books on how to "get it." Every season, every year there's some new pastor/seminary professor/guru/public pundit/talking head that writes a book on how to "get it." It's laden with cool, hip language and metaphors and slang terms. It sells lots of copies and people talk about it for a few years. I do not think "7" is one such book. I believe that Michelle and I are embarking on a journey with our Father that will change and renew us from the inside out. It will show us our spiritual lack, and reveal just how "other" and "foreign" God is to us. How totally and absolutely unlike us He is. This is our real mission. The fast is just the road to walk upon, not the destination.
“And you, take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and emmer, and put them into a single vessel and make your bread from them." - Ezekiel 4:9, ESV
Friday, March 2, 2012
Simplifying the Skeltons!
(Michelle)
As you can see, A Different Calling has been revamped to include my handsome, ridiculously smart, and always entertaining husband! This blog will now include new posts from both of us. Grant is a very talented writer and always has something to say! ;) We will start out each post with our name so there will be no awkward moments where you think it's me when it's really him. We are also embarking on an adventure that we will both be posting about frequently... and no... we're not pregnant! The title says "Simplifying" not "Multiplying!"
Beginning Sunday, March 4, 2012, Grant and I will be fasting from excess. We are simplifying our lives and allowing God to boldly show us where we have been thoughtless consumers and idolaters. For the next seven months, we'll blog about what God is revealing to us through this process. Each month, we will concentrate on something different, such as: food, media, possessions, weight, spending, waste, and stress. I wish I could tell you this incredible journey was all our idea as I pat myself on the back thinking what a humble and selfless christian I am... but I can't. If you have spent time with me or Grant lately, you have probably heard us talk about the book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, by Jen Hatmaker. In this book, Jen journals about a 7 month fast she and her husband, Brandon Hatmaker (pastor of Austin New Church) did against excess. To put it simply... this book has changed our lives. In the same breath, we cried out "Thank you! Someone gets it!!" and felt such strong conviction from the Holy Spirit for how we have sinned. It would take me forever to explain everything the Hatmakers did in their fast, so PLEASE READ THE BOOK!!! It will explain EVERYTHING! And, it will make sense when I say that we are using "7" as a guideline but we are not doing it exactly like they did. As soon as we started reading together, we immediately felt God calling us to do this. We've spent the past month reading the book while praying and seeking God for how HE wants US to do this fast. We want Him to reveal where we need to be stretched and molded. The Skeltons are not the Hatmakers. As we have prayed, God has definitely answered!
This blog post is just an intro to our 7 month journey. We hope you will follow us and commit to pray for us. Like I said, we will start this coming Sunday. Our first 4 weeks will tackle food. We have a limited number of foods we will be eating for the whole month. The Hatmakers only ate 7 (obviously). We will be adding a few more to our list, but trust me, we will definitely still feel the effects!
Please stay tuned... there's more to come.
As you can see, A Different Calling has been revamped to include my handsome, ridiculously smart, and always entertaining husband! This blog will now include new posts from both of us. Grant is a very talented writer and always has something to say! ;) We will start out each post with our name so there will be no awkward moments where you think it's me when it's really him. We are also embarking on an adventure that we will both be posting about frequently... and no... we're not pregnant! The title says "Simplifying" not "Multiplying!"
Beginning Sunday, March 4, 2012, Grant and I will be fasting from excess. We are simplifying our lives and allowing God to boldly show us where we have been thoughtless consumers and idolaters. For the next seven months, we'll blog about what God is revealing to us through this process. Each month, we will concentrate on something different, such as: food, media, possessions, weight, spending, waste, and stress. I wish I could tell you this incredible journey was all our idea as I pat myself on the back thinking what a humble and selfless christian I am... but I can't. If you have spent time with me or Grant lately, you have probably heard us talk about the book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, by Jen Hatmaker. In this book, Jen journals about a 7 month fast she and her husband, Brandon Hatmaker (pastor of Austin New Church) did against excess. To put it simply... this book has changed our lives. In the same breath, we cried out "Thank you! Someone gets it!!" and felt such strong conviction from the Holy Spirit for how we have sinned. It would take me forever to explain everything the Hatmakers did in their fast, so PLEASE READ THE BOOK!!! It will explain EVERYTHING! And, it will make sense when I say that we are using "7" as a guideline but we are not doing it exactly like they did. As soon as we started reading together, we immediately felt God calling us to do this. We've spent the past month reading the book while praying and seeking God for how HE wants US to do this fast. We want Him to reveal where we need to be stretched and molded. The Skeltons are not the Hatmakers. As we have prayed, God has definitely answered!
This blog post is just an intro to our 7 month journey. We hope you will follow us and commit to pray for us. Like I said, we will start this coming Sunday. Our first 4 weeks will tackle food. We have a limited number of foods we will be eating for the whole month. The Hatmakers only ate 7 (obviously). We will be adding a few more to our list, but trust me, we will definitely still feel the effects!
Please stay tuned... there's more to come.
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