I’ll remember every taste.
–Flor, Spanglish
I am a connoisseur of chick flick movies.
I grew up watching them in the 90’s and early 2000’s, when they were really good.
Spanglish is a favorite for many reasons, but the above line is my favorite in the whole movie.
I highly recommend it.
I recently took a trip to NYC with some girlfriends.
We lounged in central park, saw a show, and splurged on delicious food wherever we could.
It was my first time eating Dim Sum. My first time eating a lobster roll.
And we went to one of the fanciest meals I have ever been to.
We ate focaccia bread, steak tartar, mussels, and risotto balls.
We had some of the fanciest cocktails I have ever tasted,
And ate a souffle topped with amaretto ice cream that was to die for.
Another meal was squished around a bar in Harlem, eating Soul food, while being serenaded by Jazz Musicians singing Oh Happy Day.
We ate our way through the city and walked it off when we could.
More than the food…
We shared stories,
Listened to worship music as the wind rustled the leaves of Central Park,
Sang gospel with our fellow bar diners,
Ventured on subways and ferries.
We folded in people from different versions of our lives and stories, making this chapter all the sweeter because of the overlap.
Our trip very much incapsulated the phrase, I’ll remember every taste.
Fast forward to another meal….
This time I was at home in Austin, surrounded by four friends…
We had a cozy, somewhat impromptu meal with bread and oil, wine and cheese, salad and quiche, topped off with spice cake and baklava.
We sat around enjoying the meal, but more than that, sharing stories of how we came to know the Lord.
We marveled at the unique ways the Lord revealed Himself to us, and the ways we grew up in our faith through differing circumstances, different family structures, unique cultures, different points of suffering.
It was a beautiful night.
As I’ve thought about those meals.
Reflected on the sweetness of those moments, sitting in that park, and around those tables,
I was struck by the beauty of the Lord and the way He surrounds us.
With people.
With adventures.
With His creation.
He folds us into the family of God and delights in showing us more of Himself through each other.
Much like He did with His disciples, challenges us as believers to not neglect meeting together (Hebrews 10:25), to not neglect sharing food and stories and each other. In doing so, I believe we get more of Him, and more tastes of Heaven in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).
Combine all these little moments, little tastes, and it adds up to a lot of savoring that helps us endure the moments that feel a little less like Heaven.
Today, I am remembering those tastes,
Enjoying the delight of God lavishing His favor on us.
Marveling at the sweetest parts of those moments being the conversation, the laughter, and the tears.
More venturing, Jesus…
Until we adventure with you face to face.
Sincerely, Crystal 