Oh, the Smells!

I was dreading spending the weekend in a dorm room without enough to keep me busy.  When I discovered that Nashville, TN is only 215 miles from Asbury along with the fact that Keith Urban was playing the Grand Ole Opry this week, I decided to make a road trip.  One of my classmates offered to come along, too!

We went straight downtown when we arrived--taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the touristy Broadway area of Nashville.  It seems that my sense of smell has gone into overdrive.  I notice every little smell and find myself seeking to "place" it.

The fresh cut grass, the cinnamon pretzels at Auntie Anne's, a variety of Chinese foods, burgers at the Hard Rock Cafe, and the kettle-cooked popcorn outside of the Opry building.  It was a never-ending assault on my nose.

Actually, what I found is that I very much enjoy those wonderful smells.  It didn't make me feel like I was missing something, instead it made me feel that I was getting to enjoy it in another way.

After a full, busy, exciting day yesterday, we enjoyed sleeping in and catching the 11:00 service at Freedom Church.  It was an inspiring and Spirit-filled worship service.  What a welcoming group of fellow Christians!

A quick stop at the Sonic afterwards allowed my friend to grab a wonderfully-smelling burger combo meal with fries while I was tickled to get my Route 44 water (because Sonic ice is simply delightful).  I was pleasantly surprised to even catch the sweet/sour scent of her Lemonberry slush.

Once I got back to my room and settled in to reflect on the weekend, what I realized was that I really didn't miss food over the last two days.  I was engaged in life and enjoying the gifts that God did provide for me without wishing for more.

I think that's a breakthrough.

Momentary Pleasures

It's been a busy couple of days.  Over the weekend I prepared to leave my family for three weeks while I attend some summer intensive sessions at Asbury Theological Seminary.  My folks and some of my sisters came to see us before my trip.  As you can imagine, there was lots of good food.  In fact, my daughter-in-law made my favorite muffins--banana nut with cream cheese and chocolate chip filling.

It was hard for me, of course, but even harder since I really didn't want to tell my parents and my sisters about the project.  I knew they would worry--especially with a 12-13 hour drive in front of me.  When asked, I just told them I was on a special diet for a while.  Which is true.

In my class this morning we talked about the fact that as humans we are sinful, yet our natural/healthy state is not sinful.  It is a constant battle.  I can see this in my project.

I love food.  I am guilty of over-indulging in the pleasures of food on a regular basis.  This is a constant battle for me.  One of the things I'm learning through this exercise is that I have (and probably many, if not most Americans are in the same boat) used food for the pleasure of it rather than for the necessity of it.  I don't provide my body with the fuel it needs to run at peak performance.  Instead, I provide my body with the flavors and textures that my mouth and brain enjoy.

In fact, how many people do you know who will say things like, "I just don't eat vegetables.  I don't like them."  That person is certainly taking food for granted.  I'm not condemning them...I get it!

When I think about those who are starving...
when I think about those whose meal each day is a donation from a company such as Numana...
when I find myself eating my own portion of food nowadays...
the variety of foods that we have available to us on a daily basis seems like an amazing extravagance.

Over a year's time will I forget how different things taste?  Will my stomach revolt when I try my first cheeseburger and fries in a year?  Will I want a cheeseburger and fries in a year?!

In some ways, each day has gotten more difficult.  In other ways, I realize that those tastes are momentary pleasures that should not matter as much as they seem to in my mind.  For example, when I said "no" to the donut this morning, I knew that I wouldn't later think, "Man, I really wish I had eaten that donut!"

Can you imagine life without those momentary pleasures?  Some people ONLY know life without them.

I'm fortunate that this is just for one year.

When you sit down for dinner tonight, remember that you, too, are fortunate.