How Appetizing is Your Witness?

One evening, my friend River Jordan and I sat down to enjoy a much-anticipated meal together at a particular restaurant in a town I won’t mention by name. It was the close of a very long day on the road during a book tour that had us taking in something like 79 cities in 58 days. Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but we really were making some tracks. I mention the schedule to set up our mood. River and I were at the point of exhaustion where everything was funnier than it should be. Got it? Okay, cue the next scene.

As we were finishing our meal, the cute young waiter returned and asked if he could tell us about the evening’s desserts. “Sure,” we said, probably in unison.

The waiter took a deep breath and began. “Tonight,” he said, “We have brownies…”

River and I waited. Our waiter waited, too. We waited some more. As did he. It finally began to dawn on us that he was through. There was no further description forthcoming to make us want what they had to offer. No ode to a delicate pastry and a melt in your mouth frosting. No mention of toasted pecans adorning the top. They had brownies. Show over. River and I were unable to contain ourselves but let it be known that we did apologize for laughing out loud and we did leave the young fellow a hearty tip for entertainment if nothing else.

I often think that we, as believers, fall just as short with our description of why someone should seek the God we serve as our young waiter did with those brownies. We talk vaguely of eternity and some future reward. While those things are true and worthy of celebration, such a lame sketch falls woefully short of what it means to live this life with the Spirit of the Living Lord as our Counselor, Friend, and Comforter and with the Everlasting God leading us home! Have mercy. We could never exhaust this subject, but I say, let’s leave this earth trying. Can I get an Amen?

Hugs, Shellie