I’m reading The Hole in the Gospel by Richard Stearns in which he starts off by saying how much he enjoyed being in his bubble with family, friends, and career. Not with three orphans in Uganda starving of food and love.
It made me think of my time in Africa and the chocolate. In order to have a bit of solace amidst the newness of it all, Jami and I packed chocolate. Toward the end of the trip we couldn’t eat it fast enough. Home was just a sweet, caffeinated bite away. Just today it dawned on me how much of our bubble was wrapped up in that little piece of foil and how much more was in our stuff- books, computer, iPod, toilet paper, and even sometimes our attitudes of independent individuals, selfish and spoiled. Also, I wonder how we could have substituted the chocolate. What if every time I want a chocolate I prayed, did 10 sit-ups and thanked God for his presence in my life? The sweets were definitely a psychological crutch, and I limped along at times. But if it was such a mind game, why couldn’t I win with my prayers instead?
There’s a reason so many people give up chocolate and sweets for Lent. It can control them. More than any other time, a person is forced to think beyond the sweet to the reason for the fast. She might be yelling or crying at God, but at least communication is happening.
Bubbles do that- cut off service in or out for those deeper, intrusive, bubble-bursting experiences or words to change us. I wonder now in America what has become my bubble, my dark chocolate Hershey kiss. Sleep? TV? To do lists? Work? Green tea and Luna bars? Hopefully this list gives me plenty of times when I can redirect my frustrations, joys or hellos to God.
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