Day 42 - Going for the Gold

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Galatians 5: 22-24

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

It was another day to try another new food. This time I was going for the gold -- cheesy gold, that is. I was meeting a friend for lunch at a local eatery, famous for cheese-laden dishes. I'd already pored over the menu online, so I knew what I could and could not have.

Breakfast was a fried egg, a couple crisp bacon slices, and half a fresh plum.

But lunch was another meal -- another adventure -- altogether. I figured the safest bet for me was a diner classic, the bacon cheeseburger -- no bun, no tomatoes, no pickles. I could have the red onion slices and lettuce. And I ordered a side salad with oil and vinegar to mix my own dressing.

I was immediately faced with a dilemma. No hard cheeses available. No extra-sharp cheddar. Not even sharp cheddar. Just a jack blend. But what's an adventure for? I went ahead and ordered, took my pulse, and set in to sample the delicious-looking bistro fare.

My pulse was fine, so I rested easy for the remainder of the afternoon. I was not allergic to cheese, and I was feeling victorious.

So Moses went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold." Exodus 32: 31

That sense of victory was hard-fought but easily lost after all. I may not have had an allergic reaction, but I did have a digestive one. So my pleasure faded into abdominal discomfort for the remainder of the afternoon.

I now understood Dr. Ford's caution about HARD cheese versus SOFT cheese. Yes, I understood full well, the wisdom of his words.

It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold. "Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air. Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.' God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. Job 28: 15-24

My appetite was a bit off, but I still enjoyed a delicious dinner of leftover chicken breast with a sprinkling of cheese, atop a salad of lettuce, green onions, avocado, chopped plum, snow peas, bacon and celery. If you've been reading along, then  you know the dressing by now -- olive oil and red wine vinegar.

Su