Balance important to food, spirit

“Let your moderation be known unto all men”... Philippians 4:5

It is comfort food season. I am talking about things like green chili stew, beans and cornbread, chicken and dumplings. I could go on and on as even talking about them evokes a sense of comfort and wellbeing. It isn’t only the food itself, but the memories of sitting around the table with family and friends on a cold, snowy evening.

The taste of food is especially important. The secret to good cooking is adding spices and herbs that complement the food instead of overpowering it. I am the type of person who has a well-stocked spice cabinet and not afraid to experiment by adding spices and herbs.

Long ago I learned about spices and how certain blends complement each other. It began when we discovered a blend of chili and other spices put together by a woman who used the proceeds from the sales to give to missions. When added to a pot of beans, the flavor was out of this world.

Every few months we would place an order with her and always knew they had arrived when we walked into the post office. Even though the package was well sealed, the aroma sifted into the air providing a pleasing scent. This lady is in heaven now and we never discovered her combination of spices and herbs. Instead, my husband came up with his own unique blend.

A friend introduced me to a company that mixes garlic and onion with lemon and orange peel. It may not seem these ingredients would go well together, but it is amazing how well they blend and bring out the flavor of food.

Salt is important in cooking, but must be added in the right amounts. Too little and the food is bland, too much and it is overpowering. Let me give you a little hint for too much salt even though most cooks already know this. If your food is too salty as you cook it, add a raw potato to the mixture. As it cooks, the potato absorbs the excess salt.

How does all of this relate to our spiritual walk? Think a moment if you are the type of person that others enjoy being around. Are people put at ease when you walk into the room or go in the opposite direction?

Are you a salt and pepper type of person. As we noted earlier, salt is important unless you add too much. The same can be said about the flavor of pepper in small doses is good, but too much overpowers the dish.

What about your spiritual life? Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone when the Lord calls you to do something new? It is like the seasoning combination I mentioned earlier, even though I doubted it would be good, it has become a staple in my cooking.

A little of this, a little of that makes the perfect dish. The same can be said about Christians. We need the hot chili Christian that gets every body’s attention and fires them up to do the will of God. At the same time we need the orange and lemon peels. Although they are subtle and slight, their addition to the mixture brings everything together.

A recipe for a godly life is found In 2 Peter 1:5-7. Beginning with faith you add liberal amounts of goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. Mix well, “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”. (2 Peter 1:8)

Whether cooking or living the life of a Christian, the key is variety and moderation for the perfect result.

Debra Whittington is a longtime resident of Tucumcari. Contact her at: [email protected]