Come And Dine

This little tidbit was given to me in the middle of the night by the Lord. I got up and wrote it down.

Super Market for Super Christianity

I walked into the discount supermarket to get my weekly sustenance, as I grabbed the cart that of course was fighting me all the way hanging tenaciously to its friends I thought, “Well, here we go again”.
Greeting me as I swung down the first aisles was rows of on sale items, processed, canned, and artfully packaged done in a intensely psychological studied way to grab the “marketing vulnerability” of my soul.
Throwing each item that appealed to me I moved on down to the end and was greeted at the end by the produce section. Well I swung in there for a token grab of anemic lettuce, celery and maybe a banana or two because after all, we must all eat our veggies right? That is what we have been told anyway and I do want to eat a healthy diet.
Then, aisle after aisle I roam, throwing packaged cereal, pasta sauce, boxed cake mixes with frosting, chips and canned soup on in the growing mixture in my cart. A little high fructose corn syrup here, MSG (to enhance the taste) there, with a dose of preservatives laced throughout the mix, because after all, I would not want to risk being poisoned or getting something “less than fresh tasting”. I made sure I kept an eye at for the newest and greatest advertised item because, after “all new” means best, right?
Oh yah, I quickly stop by the meat counter but mostly I just want some lunch meat because after all, it is no trouble to put together a sandwich as I am running through life at super speed. I don’t think I will buy a roast or something I have to actually prepare and cook properly because that is just way too much trouble and I have much more important things to do, like save the world and do ministry and all.
Well, almost done now, just the dairy section to throw in some margarine, which must be better than the old butter because it is free of that dangerous cholesterol and this is the good, modern formulated fat with no consequences, just a chemical or two. Oh, and right next to that aisle is all the frozen food that is much more convenient, no worry about spoilage there as the life is gone in it and it is always solid and unchanging, safe and predictable like good TV dinners are expected to be.
Whew, I am almost done now. I have to just get some of those fancy scented detergents to wash my dirty laundry, whiteners and brighteners so I will look clean and my very best as I present myself to the world as the perfect put together person.
Wow I feel good now. I am certainly a savvy shopper, walking through life in the most efficient clean way and spending my resources wisely. How lucky I am to live in a place of bounty and convenience. I notice though that although colorful and full of variety the cart is extremely heavy and as I check out the bill seems awfully high. It seems that just in a few days I end up with nothing to eat and am back here doing it all over again.

A Second Shopping Choice
I enter the store and walk fight with that cart and walk through to that produce aisle. Picking through the offerings I chose unadulterated food as made by the Lord with all its color, taste but vulnerability to spoilage if I am not careful to eat it up in a timely fashion. Ok, maybe a little trouble to deal with because it has to be stored properly, watched closely, and planned to be eaten regularly. Oh but it tastes so good and has all the vitamins and minerals my body needs to be healthy.
As I move on to past the bulk section I see beans and rice, flour, spices and baking powder and such and those get thrown in the cart, mmmmm, very economical and I can eat all week on this stuff. I have to do the work, package them up but I know exactly what is in there. Maybe these don’t look very pretty or trendy but they are extremely practical and economical. It will take a little work to create a tasty dish out of these but I will know what is in it and it will be “straight up food”.
On to the meat counter. I think I will pick up a roast and a chicken too. There is the cheese too, that will be good and also a corned beef brisket to go with all that fresh cabbage. Oh, there is some stew meat to cook those potatoes and carrots with, wow sounds like this is going to taste just like home.
Next is a quick stop at the dairy aisle for some real milk and butter and then to the soap aisle. Fragrance free for me because I don’t like all those strange smells and then over to the bakery for some nice whole wheat bread.
Ok, I am done now and ready to check out. I can eat a whole two weeks on this. It will take some thought, care, research or a dig for a few recipes and some love but I feel good about this shopping trip, not ripped off and controlled by the world of marketing hype.
Would you like to come for dinner sometime?

Keeping This Shopping Experience in Mind
Is this how we now approach the Word of God? As I walked into a Christian bookstore a thought occurred to me. The same super market scenario was in play. The middle aisles were filled with the latest marketed answers to you spiritual health. Programs, plans with the 7 steps to health, wealth, fitness and any other desire we may be lacking thrown in there. Here lie all the answers to our problems for only $14.95 plus tax. Maybe I should shop the perimeter of that store too, where they keep the Bibles.
I may have to read it for the recipe of my life, pouring over it diligently and trying new approaches as the Lord walks with me while eating some of those meals that didn’t quite turn out quite so perfectly. Maybe let Him guide me as He leads me on learning how to work with realities instead of hype and additives like soulish ideas with a dose of the “pride of life” thrown in. I may learn that He always shows up for dinner though and is willing to eat my mistakes with me while we laugh, cry and become true family. I have a strong feeling He wants that just like I do.
Come and Dine (a 1907 Hymn)
Jesus has a table spread, where the saints of God are fed: He invites His chosen people, “Come and dine.”
With His manna He doth feed and supplies our every need: Oh ‘tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time.
“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine;” You may feast at Jesus table all the time; He who fed the multitude. Turned the water into wine. To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”

Written by Rosemary Bridges