beWARM

After spending time with our youngest daughter Abby, I invariably come away with some fun and fresh menu ideas. I love learning from my children!

Since her high-school days, Abby has regaled us with her culinary artistry – and we, the ever-so-eager samplers of her inventive creations, have benefited from her knowledge of healthy eating habits.

In her teen years, when she used to whip up  salad dressings out of whatever stocked our pantry, we used to say, “You should sell these, Abs!”

Who knew we could predict the future?

Mom’s subjective bragging rights aside, Abby’s Table sauces and her Wednesday dinners in Portland are fresh, yummy, and clean – no fillers or preservatives here. And…they are gluten-free – a necessary element for many diets these days.

Most people in need of such a diet have been diagnosed with celiac disease, which, simply defined, is “a disease of the digestive system that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food”. (from freedictionary.com)

One theory as to the rise of celiac disease has to do with the methods used to breed modern varieties of wheat, resulting in a less “gut-friendly” grain.

Which got me to thinking about the diet of my soul and mind.

Am I ingesting meaningful thoughts for thriving – or have I been content with non-purposeful pablum? Do I stand true to my convictions – or have I, over time, allowed mental modifications to adjust them to the current social climate?

What in my life is interfering with the absorption of nutrients of the spirit?

Let’s name a few… busyness, unnecessary worry, electronic devices ( though I am still trying to Opt-Out more often), simple lack of discipline.

Excuses, excuses… so easy to make; and yet, think of the benefits of committing to “pollutant-free” mind food.

Clarity…peace…discernment..rest…

Free of toxins, these blessings optimize  our “ingesting” capabilities, allowing our expanded and clearer minds to absorb all things good.

Quoting again from freedictionary.com: “As more is learned about celiac disease, it becomes evident that it has many variations which may not produce typical symptoms. It may even be clinically ‘silent,’ where no obvious problems related to the disease are apparent.”

The same holds true for souliacs. We can quietly, unknowingly, contaminate our minds and hearts, with potentially harmful, even devastating effects in the long-term.

Let’s not succumb to Mindless Fluff. Junk-food, be gone! Let’s be thoughtful and intentional when making our spiritually nourishing selections.

God’s Word is the perfect place to start.

But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you. ~ Psalm 81:16