Though I entered marriage with a love of hot teas, some
where along the line Barry and I began to specifically favor Early Grey hot (pronounced, of course, with an accent) with half & half vanilla creamer or sweetened condensed milk.
Today, however, if you want to spoil me with tea, my absolute favorite is organic Genmaicha plain—i.e., no crème, no sugar.
How did my preference transition from severely-sugar-laden Earl Grey to simple organic green and brown rice Genmaicha?
By not being the focus.
Change is somewhat curious.
Often it is best accomplished sideways.
My focus was not changing my taste buds. My focus was being intentional about health. To do so, cravings for sugar had to be addressed. 5000 taste buds did not en mass volunteer to lead the adventure. They were drafted by my will.
Perhaps we focus too much on our tastes and too little on our wills.
In this regard, physical health and soul health are quite similar.
What less-than-healthy tastes have our souls acquired? Whatever they are, they will not rise up en mass and volunteer for change. They will have to be drafted by our will.
For example, if our souls have grown accustomed to a diet of adrenaline and distraction, stillness or rest or “ordinary time” may feel unproductive and unsatisfying.
We do not change such feelings by focusing upon them.
Our focus is spiritual health. And thankfully, we do not need permission from our taste buds to exercise our wills and architect healthier lives.
Interesting post, made me think that what you wrote is so simplistic we miss out by overlooking it. Take it a step further and you realize that when you ‘cleanse’ yourself of all that sugar you learn your body will guide you to what it needs. How AWESOME is it that when we cleanse ourselves of the ‘sugars’ of this world that tantalize our soul~the Holy Spirit will guide your soul to the nourishment IT needs. Perfect similar, both absolute necessities to live how we were created to live….sigh, just saying….you nailed that for me….physical, spiritual, what is nice vs what is necessary….all that jumped into my head in a grace filled moment of clarity! Enjoying your blog, Love, P
Paula, so, so true! Weaned off of the processed sugars, I began to relish all things natural. It’s as though the sugars deceived me. The soul-ish parallel is equally true. The artificial numbs us to the purity and power of all things God-breathed.
Beautiful words my friend. feeling satisfied this morning, wonderful way to begin any day…am thankful and AMEN!
‘5000 taste buds did not en mass volunteer to lead the adventure. They were drafted by my will.’ You are so right. When change is needed, it is usually accomplished by a focus less on the change and more on the greater good to which the change will lead. Our will is a must in that regard. Very thought provoking post…on many levels. The consistent way that I have been able to see spiritual change in my life is to get into the Word and let the Word change me. That requires that I am deliberate about BEING IN the Word.
On a different level….Hello, my name is Leah and I am a sugar addict.
Yes! The Word empowers our will. Thanking God…