I Just Wanna Know

 … Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you… Exodus 16:4

I sometimes have this picture in my mind about making it to heaven and having an “orientation seminar” with God and His angels and saints.  To amuse myself while driving or doing yucky tasks, I sometimes compose a list of questions I’d like to ask during the Q and A part of that meeting. Some of the questions are biggies and some are completely silly.  I was weeding my big flower bed (completely yucky task!) recently and the list of silly questions got pretty long.  The list topper that day was, “God, if carrots and cucumbers are supposed to be good for us, why didn’t you make them taste better than things that are bad for us like chips and cheesecake?”  I love my fruits and vegetables don’t get me wrong, but seriously, there is a very good reason the summer ice cream shop on the corner doesn’t sell broccoli splits or caramel cabbage sundaes!

This silly question has stayed with me for several days. Recently at daily Mass, the first reading has been from the Exodus story.  Today’s reading was about Manna; bread from heaven.  It’s a beautiful story of God and His loving faithfulness. I wondered what it would be like to just see your food appear, morning and night with no effort on your part! Seriously…meals I didn’t have to plan, prepare, serve or clean up…that would be heaven!  It didn’t happen once a week; it happened every day.  The food was sent in the perfect amounts and nobody had to analyze its protein and carbohydrate ratio, dispute its nutritional density or scrutinize the label.  It just came and it was perfect!  If you read a little further in the story it isn’t long before the Israelites threw a hissy fit because they wanted meat…it came and then they threw another fit about being thirsty.  Each time God answered their whining in a miraculous way. He made it SO easy for them!  I have read that story time and time again and I’m always a little stunned that the Israelites could be so whiney and demanding.  They lacked appreciation and after all they had witnessed God do for them they still experienced doubt, denial and rebellion.  I’m pretty quick to think I would have been a much more faithful dessert traveler.  I think I might have even been Moses right hand girl.  I wouldn’t have doubted no-sir-re!  I would have been awed, amazed and completely obedient. Or would I?

 The “or would I” leads me back to my silly question about zucchini verses French fries!  Do I have the strength to know the truth and act obediently?  Do I know some choices are better for me than others…sure!  Do I always make those good for me choices…absolutely not?  Do I try to wiggle out of the “hard way or the right way” and settle for the “easy way”…yes I do more often than I’d care to admit probably.  So you might be wondering what lettuce, cookies and the Israelites all have to do with one another and here is the connection…strength to trust and follow the will of the Father…especially when there is a choice available that seems easier or tastier or more self-gratifying.  I have to be more willing to experience a little self-denial. If I really want to live as a disciple, I have to stop throwing a temper tantrum about silly little stuff that brings me happiness and comfort.  I mistakenly think those simple pleasures that bring temporary good feelings matter. The truth is, they can’t even compare to what God has in store for us.  It’s kinda like having a bucket of sand and thinking you have a sea shore. It took the Israelites 40 years of wandering…I wonder how much longer I’ll be wandering before I truly master the lesson of living in His will instead of wandering my easy path!  The road to the Father is paved one joyfully offered sacrifice and one loving act of obedience at a time.  Lord, give me the strength to get to You!  
 
A Seed To Plant:  Be consciences of little sacrifices and acts of self-denial you can offer to the Father this week.

Blessings on your day!