I Love Apples!

Once in a while I find something I really, REALLY love. Some times the infatuation goes just as quickly as it comes. For example, toe socks. (Not that I wore any, EVER! But I do love socks...ask my parents about my Christmas list the last 20 years!) Other times, the desire for whatever object lasts and finds its way into the category of "I love that!" Or, maybe into the category of addiction.

And, I have decided that Honeycrisp Apples fit that category. They are sweet and a bit tart; filling, but just enough. That is, unless you add a big heaping spoon of Nutella on the plate as well. Apples are good for you. Nutella, not so much. Although, I would like to point out that Nutella does have hazelnuts (at least 50 per jar), skim milk and a touch of cocoa, even though the first ingredent is sugar.

The apples I get are huge. Right at a pound each! I can cut them into at least 20 pieces before devouring them with the sweet treat that provides some additional yummy-ness. There is way more than I need, even though apples are technically good for me. But, I love them. I love the taste. It's instant gratification for my tastebuds. I love the combination of the tart fruit and the sugary dip. Even writing about it has my mouth watering!

But, the reality is, I may love apples too much! Because they are huge, I eat way more than I should. I figure I should eat what's on my plate, and I put the whole thing on there. I don't stop until I finish it all. I love the satifaction of taking an empty plate back into the kitchen.

While that sounds good, at least to my mother, I end up feeling worse than I did before I started. I am miserable and regretting my decision to eat the entire thing, to take in the entire experience of savoring the most perfect fruit ever made. Yet, when the next day arrives, I forget the pain and misery as I remember the explosion of taste in my mouth. And so, I jump in again to eat an entire Honeycrisp apple with a big spoonful of Nutella.

I love apples. I love Nutella. I love them together, but I don't love the feeling after eating a full plate. The question is how I can enjoy their goodness without going overboard. We'll see if I can figure out the balance between the good gift of fruit and the poison of too much goodness.

If you really knew me....

Today I read a book called Permission to Speak Freely written by my friend, Anne Jackson. She shared essays about all the things we "can't" talk about in the church. Issues like: depression, abuse, lack of faith, sex, anger, etc. She candidly offers her faith journey full of highs and lows, pains and graces. A great read for those wounded by the church and for those who love the church.

Then, tonight I watched MTV's (I know, not my normal routine) show "If You Really Knew Me" featuring students at my alma mater, Paris High School. Students worked on breaking down barriers across ethnic, socioeconomic and gender lines. Several of the kids poured out years of hurts to other students who had no idea of the pain inside the "cool kid" or "jock."

After some group building activities they were asked to get into small groups of about six and finish the statement, "If you really knew me...." My heart broke as I listened to stories of abandonment, poor choices, harassment and ridicule. There is so much hurt, but none of them felt free to speak that hurt because they thought they were all alone! They realized they were not alone. Friendships were made and walls broken down, relationships restored because they opened up.

Where do you need to open up and share? What is inside you that needs to get out? How can we walk with you as you experience healing and wholeness through this confession of who you really are?

Let us know by completing the phrase: "If you really knew me......"