November 2022
Expressing life does not require repressing the soul and higher mind. Nor does it require rejecting the spiritual aspects inherent in the variety of experiences one can encounter. The joy of the LORD is in the principles of life, rightly expressed in all experiences. Being holy is knowing and expressing the divine intention and spiritual purpose found in morality. We need the unadulterated truth which gives birth to joy, peace, and the happiness of a fulfilled life. The absence of divine intention is the avenue through which imbalance, disharmony, and evil are the outcome. The absence of divine intention causes what was meant for pleasure to become poison. One does not mean to harm their body through the food they eat, but their food and addiction to taste can lead to issues with their health. Healthy foods can and should be made palatable and pleasing to the sight. The tongue can experience the basic flavors of bitterness, sourness, saltiness (saline), spiciness, blandness, and sweetness. Our life experiences are similar to our taste receptors. We can have bitter experiences, sour attitudes, salty dispositions, spicy personalities, a bland outlook, or sweet affection. When we cook we are in charge of the flavors of our foods. Likened to cooking, sometimes we overdo it with the flavors, or sometimes there aren’t enough flavors and ingredients. A good meal is delightful if we can have all flavors appropriately blended into our meal. We can select one or more flavors as the prime or sole taste that is sought. On occasion, a little sweetness aids in getting the medicine to go down, or combat peppery spices. We may wish to wash our mouths and rid ourselves of bacteria with the bitter taste of a lemon. We can consume the lemon straight/directly, or in a glass of water. What is the perfect or appropriate balance that you can control? What are the ingredients that are required to improve your life? Have you so engaged in the sweet aspects of life that bitter herbs are necessary? Can you make your circumstances and karma more palatable with salt, sugar, or spices? The health of your body, mind, and soul is your decision that should be guided by truth. The circumstances and conditions of your existence need you to enhance and change the recipe of living. Read the 12th Psalm this month.