Who listened to your dreams when you were a child? A grandmother? A favorite auntie? A neighbor? Were you listened to by anybody? Somebody special? What comes to mind when you think about this special person who gave you an audience?
Aunt Charlotte’s house shines in my remembrance as a bright and welcoming space for a child. The cookie jar was always filled with Sugar Cookies and the candy dish never ran out of orange slices. Old oatmeal containers in the guest closet brimmed over with empty cinnamon and clove containers and marbles and other little items a child would enjoy. Every child who visited her home somehow knew to go to the closet and pull out the treasures. Her table overflowed with fresh flower arrangements of peonies and gladiolas from her garden while English tea cups graced the corner cupboard safely nestled behind glass.
Isn’t it interesting that so many of my memories of my favorite aunt circle around fragrance and taste? She listened and I tasted acceptance and experienced validation while perched on the white metal stool at the end of her galley kitchen. Nearby she rolled out her famous mouth-watering sugar cookies.
I’m reminded that Jesus spoke seven “I AM’s” and the first one brings to mind tasting and smelling–“I am the BREAD OF LIFE.” Have you ever walked into a home where fresh bread has just been removed from the oven? Is there any better fragrance to meet your taste buds? Probably not. Spread the butter thick, or Papa’s Raspberry Jam if you are one of his grandchildren, and you are in epicurean heaven.
What is it about bread that made Jesus speak this I AM first? Psalm 34:8 says to “taste and see that the Lord is good.”
Perhaps tasting is where we begin to experience the goodness of Jesus. Have you ever offered a child a new food and invited them to just taste it? “You don’t have to eat the whole enchilada, just take a bite.”
Maybe that is how Jesus invites us to experience him–not in an overwhelming way, but in a gentle experimental way. Taste. Taste and see. What will you experience with a simple taste?
It’s worth considering.
Maybe it begins as simply as asking, “Jesus, are you in me?” Listen for his response. He will offer you a taste, not to overwhelm but to sample. Costco knows it all starts with the sampling.
Photos by Steven Bimson at the book launch for “A Life of Resounding Joy.” The book is available exclusively at Marlee’s RadiantLifeMapping.com website.