Taste & See

Every dog experiences so much through its mouth. We’ve had three dogs over the years, and our last one - Heather – had quite an “oral fixation.” 

She loved to climb up on my husband’s lap and lick his cheeks.

When she didn’t feel well, she always wanted a small dish of milk. She would see it coming…wag her tail…and the milk would quickly disappear from the bowl.

Every time we prepared food in the kitchen, she would roam around at our feet, and would quickly lap up even the tiniest crumb that fell to the floor.

If a grape hit the ground, she would pick it up and race back to her bed. However, she had no idea what to do with it! She would roll it around in her mouth, then spit it out. Over and over again. Clearly, the taste and texture weren’t pleasing. Yet it was months before she realized that it was best for her to ignore any grape that came her way.

And then, of course, when I once dropped a small chunk of raw hamburger, she moved with incredible speed and wolfed it down. 

Most dogs are like this. They seem to explore the world primarily through their mouths (and, of course, their noses). They’ll stick their heads in the trash, gobble down chicken bones, and even try to eat bugs. If it smells good or looks interesting, they’re game. Into the mouth it goes. Even it makes them puke!

Here’s the spiritual parallel that occurs to me: just as dogs are willing to take virtually anything into their mouths…are we willing to take virtually anything into our hearts?

As this metaphor popped into my head, I started to think about things we might “gobble up” without considering the consequences. Such as easily taking offense, holding onto bitterness, quickly yielding to anger, or expressing myself with pride. We might “taste” things that look good, yet are not good for us. So we may give in to materialism, or forget to practice moderation in our physical appetites, or too harshly judge ourselves in comparison to others. 

In this way, we can be just like a dog. We can unthinkingly ingest words and images and attitudes and ideas that distort our view of ourselves, others and God. And just like a dog, we might not initially realize the impact of what we’ve consumed. Yet if we chomp down things that are not good, then we will get sick. Perhaps spiritually or emotionally or morally sick.

So as you face a new year, I encourage you to be intentional about what you taste. 

Taste and see what is around you. 

Taste and see what is truly good, and truly from God, before you ingest it.

Let me pray for you. Dear God, thank you for your invitation to a life of abundance and goodness if we draw close to you. I pray that those reading this blog would carefully consider what they “taste” this year. Help them to make good choices that will bring good things into their hearts and lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.