Between the ages of two and eight,
my middle son David, limited his diet to peanut butter and jam sandwiches plus
an apple now and then. Trying to convince David to try anything else meant
inciting total war between David and his dad. And when we accepted a dinner
invitation, our childless friends were insulted when young David turned up his
nose at their delicious roast beef dinner. Totally frustrated, I asked my
doctor for methods of varying David’s diet. The doctor replied, “if he eats
peanut butter, bread, apples and drinks milk, he’ll be fine. If you’re worried
give him a daily vitamin and let it rest.” Grateful, for the peace this
philosophy brought to our home, we accepted David’s diet choices. Today, as a
vegetarian his diet is still different from mine.
I think sometimes many of us think
our way of practicing our faith, is the
only way that a person can live a spiritually healthy life. I believe Jesus
offers us much the same message as our doctor. If you believe in God, and live
with love and respect for your neighbour and yourself, you are receiving the
staples, the bread and peanut butter of faith. Sure, there is lots of variety
out there. Whether you kneel, stand, sit, or lie down to pray is not important.
Just remember to pray. Whether you gather together with others or worship on
your own in the great outdoors, the important thing is to offer God your
gratitude and praise for the abundance you enjoy. Worshipping alone may mean
you miss out on the support, the learning and the fellowship of church
membership but you’ll get by, and you can always take the odd vitamin shot of communal
faith at Christmas and Easter.
Rather than trying to argue people
into your way of believing, try looking for the staples, the bread and peanut
butter of faith that a person does have and give thanks for those blessings.
“Teacher, which is the greatest
commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is
the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two
commandments.” Matthew 22: 36-40
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