Invitation to Dinner

To me, there is nothing more intimate than sharing a meal with a loved one--or someone attempting to enter that category--in my life. I believe soft vibes and good food nourish the body of conversation that allows people to either get or stay connected in their relationships. 

After coming out of the trauma associated with my marriage, I am left to reflect on the dearth of intimate meals we shared, and the lack of genuine connection between the two of us.  It makes me compare relationships to the types of meals that are served in homes across America today:

Fast Food Nation:  many relationships are created by brief drive throughs that seek to feed our hunger, but give us empty calories and have absolutely no nutritional value.  Junk goes in, junk comes out, and a person is left feeling drained, heavy and unfortunately still hungry for more.  Fast Food relationships are created in a flash, but when times get tough or commitment claws at relational comfort zones, a relationship like this is only good for feeding a primal urge (sex, company, wanting to feel wanted, etc.).

Microwave Meals:  these types of relationships get hot quick, fast and in a hurry; but unfortunately the heat never lasts.  You put a relationship in the microwave, and you'll get decent coverage...its nutritional value is questionable, but if not consumed quickly, it requires the high maintenance of heating it up again and again.  Relationships should be low maintenance-high impact, not high maintenance-low impact.

Boxed, Canned and Bagged Meals:  These are the type of cookie cutter relationships people find themselves in with plenty of preservatives (things that make the relationship last) but little nutritional value (things that maintain the passion, excitement, commitment and dedication).  They're easy, they're convenient, and they look great on the surface...but if you scratch it just a little bit, you will find skeletons of secrets or simmering hostilities in the closets and elephants of miscommunication in the living rooms.

Meals Made From Scratch:  This is how I cook, and this is how I have committed--after putting myself through fast food, microwave and boxed meals--to entering into new relationships (whether romantic, platonic, business or church) from now on.  You have to create a foundation, which takes time.  You have to chop vegetables, which takes work. You have to mix flavors together, which takes trust and humility.  You have to wait for it to simmer, boil and/or bake, which takes even MORE time.  But the two main ingredients in relationships like this are PATIENCE and LOVE.

We have a Master Cook who runs Heaven's Kitchen.  If we allow Him, He can orchestrate and put together the most divine meals/relationships ever.  Let Him chop you up, and throw the useless parts of you away.  Let Him adjust the heat, taking your passion and purpose from simmer to boil.  Let Him leave you in His oven just long enough for the aroma of your personality and the flavor of His work in you to burst forth, causing those surrounding you to salivate for a taste of your purpose.

That kind of memorable creation will make you want to give your compliments to the Chef.

Be blessed!

My-Life, have you found yourself in any of the kinds of relationships above?  Not just romantic relationships, but friends, business partners, churches, and co-workers?  How did you take time out to allow God to create good relationships in you from scratch?