Man should not live by bread alone, but on every word from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4
Recently, I made a summer panzanella salad and all of us agreed that it would have been much better to leave out the bread as it became too soggy from the juice of the tomatoes and vinaigrette. I think it was the fact that the recipe called for us to soak the bread in the vinaigrette at the beginning. Soaking or saturating the bread was the wrong approach. Sometimes too much saturation can cause a “sogginess” in my life. It can breed discontent. I seem to be hearing the same dramas over and over again on the news and the saturation of negativity is causing my spirit to become discontent and fearful.
A few lessons can be learned from the Bible. The Israelites became discontent because they saturated themselves with complaining, especially if their needs were not being met. Even after God saved them from slavery and they crossed the Red Sea to freedom. They soon took their freedoms for granted and started complaining about their present circumstances. Pleading for their needs and wants to be met.
I will be the first to admit that this quarantine seems long and my life is getting ‘soggy’ with complaints from my kids and myself. No pools are open. No parks are open. The list of closures is endless. Discontent can be contagious and leads to all sorts of unhealthy behaviors. The opposite of discontent is contentment. This must be practiced and taught on a regular basis. When my mouth is full it is easy to be content. The key is to fill my mouth with what feeds the soul, not to saturate it with the weariness of this present quarantine or political climate.
There is a secret to counter this ‘sogginess of the soul.’ Apostle Paul learned this secret well. “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12) He then taught this to his ‘spiritual son’ Timothy, who learned it well. “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
Saturation
Soak. Practice. Teach.
How can I saturate my life with contentment?
Photo credit: Katherine Salinas