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?
Showing posts with label Idol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Idol. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
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
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