I love food! Even now my mouth is watering over the thought of some of my favorite foods. Angeno’s House Special pizza on thin crust, prime rib sliders from Perry’s in Newport Beach, Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp from the Cheesecake Factory: they are calling out to me! As foodies, we each have our own special places to eat and foods that we love.
I always enjoy finding new places to eat when I travel as well. Sometimes I play it safe and eat at chain restaurants, but most of the time I want to taste the flavors of the city or state I’m visiting. When I taste the foods, I gain a better understanding of their culture, and I make new friends.
I remember going into a small teashop in Virginia last year. I just wanted a cup of tea on a cool fall afternoon. The owner threw me a curve when she asked if I wanted civilized or uncivilized tea. Of course, I had to ask what civilized tea was, since I figured we weren’t talking about decaf. Turns out, civilized tea is served in a glass teacup and you sit at a table to drink it instead of rushing out the door with a styrofoam cup in your hand. I didn’t want to admit I had intended to have an uncivilized cup of tea. So I slowed down and allowed the atmosphere and smells draw me in to enjoy a civilized cup of her homemade brew. After tasting civilized tea, accompanied by civilized soup, and a scrumptious brownie, I began to see this entire community in a new light.
Funny how stopping my hurried day for a cup of civilized tea changed that entire trip for me. Instead of just another little town, I tasted the town, the people, and the community when I had that cup of tea and savory soup. I tasted the heart of the shop owner as we chatted and got to know each other. I tasted the needs of the community as she shared her concerns for new development. I saw the goodness both she and her community had to offer to a stranger who had wandered in. I actually began to look at places to live in that town, because I had taken the time to taste and see what it had to offer. It didn’t work for me to move there, but I’m still on her daily menu email. I’m captivated, so in my heart I stay near.
Psalm 34:8 says: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” It’s a Scripture that captured my attention the first time I read it. How do you taste and see that the Lord is good? Well, for us foodies, we can understand what it is to taste something wonderful and see and experience its tantalizing appeal. Once you’ve seen and tasted the Chocolate Motherlode Cake from Claim Jumpers, Vicki’s homemade key lime pie, or Lloyds baby-back ribs, no other cake, pie, or rib can compare! Foodies will drive miles to taste and see their favorite food. I remember my daughter and her college friends driving four hours to another state to enjoy a Krispy Kreme Doughnut – foodies are crazy, but choosy!
When someone talks about his or her favorite food, it makes a foodie want to try it. Come on now, how many of you just googled the Motherlode Cake to see what it’s all about?!
The same is true if you want to taste and see that the Lord is good. You must know how to find Him, come to Him, and see what He has to offer you (hundreds of promises for a future and better life). To taste and see that the Lord is good simply means you must experience Him for yourself. You can hear about Him from others, just like you’ve heard about these restaurants and foods from me. But until you taste and see how good these foods are, it’s like drinking uncivilized tea. You just haven’t experienced who God is, what He’s about, how He sees you, and how much He cares for you.
So here’s a special offer for all Foodies. If you haven’t done so already, I’d recommend that you taste and see that the Lord is good for you too. Hey He’s free, located in your own neighborhood, and no coupons are required!
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