Friday night our friend brought home 2 huge slices of moist cake from Society Bakery. Friday night was 
when I cursed this damn cleanse. I brought it up to my nose, and I could smell the vanilla extract and butter cream. For the next 5 minutes, we discussed (seriously) how we all had a tough week, and sweets and a good movie would hit the spot. It was in my moment of weakness that I realized why this cleanse is so important to me. Because I live as an American in a culture driven by consumerism. It’s a mentality that is saturated with the notion that if you want it, then you can have it. Granted, there are those moments in my life where I don’t get everything exactly how I want it, but if I’m honest with myself, I rarely go without.
Jesus just got done feeding 5,000 very hungry folks and his compadres start bickering about the fact that they don’t have any bread. He gently reminds them of how He just fed the crowds on 12 loaves. And then they speak and say they believe He is the Messiah. And that’s when Jesus says this: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8: 34-38)
I’ve realized that’s why I’m doing this. Because it seems very cute and cozy these days to say we are followers of Christ but then we do not obey the very words He spoke. He said deny yourself. He warns of how the world can be so convincing. And it’s true. Wave chocolate cake in front of my face and I’ll easily sell my soul. It’s not that a little sugar will ruin me. It’s that I NEVER go without. It’s always about me, my needs, my wants, and what I am trying to get out of life. I don’t want that. What I want is to love people better. To serve people more than I serve myself. To joyfully give more than I take in. And I want to do that because it’s what my Savior has asked me to do. On day 10, I seem to maybe get it a little better. Just a little.
Food Tangent…
Final little word. When it comes to cooking organically, one of the biggest questions I get is about seasoning. My first lesson if I could share would be this. Master salt and pepper. I know that sounds so simple but it really should be. In this basic lesson there are 2 things to consider: 1. Quality. Find the very best sea salt and use only cracked black pepper. 2. Trust your taste buds. Don’t worry about how much, just go on taste. And by that I mean take a bit, season, and then take a bite. Stop when it tastes really good. Try this out on eggs. Scramble some farm-fresh eggs with coconut milk. Cook on medium low to medium heat and slowly stir. You’ll get a very creamy fluffy egg. Plate and then season. If you can get this perfected, steamed veggies and breakfast potatoes become a snap.
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LOVE IT!
Comment by awareness run August 17, 2009 @ 3:20 pm