Gentle Reader,
I’ve been about a 97% vegetarian for the last year-and-a-half. At first, I craved meat, sure that I wasn’t getting enough protein. Slowly but surely, my body adjusted. Liver function improved. I pushed back against the bad cholesterol that runs in my family. I’ve tried around 100 different recipes, give or take, mostly found on Pinterest. Every two weeks, I stock up on fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
This does not mean, however, that I’ve morphed into some “oh, I could never eat junk food again” kind of person. I continue to love junk food. My palette may have been forced to expand, but, at heart, I still want to eat like a teenager.
Today, I ate the biggest Arby’s sandwich I could get.
It was glorious.
Red meat is the biggest “no-no” when you’ve got a crappy liver, but, once a year (on my birthday) from now on, I will throw caution to the wind and have the roast beef (and, let’s get real, the curly fries). There’s enough struggle and striving in life. I believe that God encourages us to find bright spots of enjoyment as often as possible.
For me, it’s the roast beef.
And now all my ethical vegetarian and vegan friends/followers have fainted in horror.
Linking up with Kate and the authors (that sounds like a band name). We:
Go
“Do or do not. There is no try.” – Yoda
Wisdom from a galaxy far, far away.
We like to hedge our bets – try to do better, try to be there, try to commit, try to pray. What we really mean – I probably won’t, but I want to give off the impression that I will. Because we don’t want to disappoint anyone, ourselves included. We want to say “no” without actually saying “no.”
I’ve experienced this recently in the context of exercise. Having battled extreme fatigue and other ailments all year long, there are nights when I go to bed and promise myself, “I’ll try to exercise tomorrow.” Instead of just being honest – “I am too tired to do anything intense, but I can do gentle things and make time for rest” – I played mind games with myself. I rationalized and justified.
There’s only “do” and “don’t”, “yes” and “no,” sometimes “maybe,” if we really, honestly don’t know if we’ll be able to do something.
But there is no “try.”
You don’t try to write a book, you just write it.
You don’t try to build a business, you put in hours of hard work.
You don’t try to have a good marriage, you commit to your spouse.
You don’t try to love the Lord, you ask Him to give you a new heart.
It’s making choices and taking responsibility.
It’s that whole,
“But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”
– Matthew 5:37 (NKJV)
And it’s knowing that the “yes” and the “no” are sufficient.
Stop
Photo credit: Clem Onojeghuo
Also linking up with the Ra-Ra Writers.
Great post, Marie…yes is yes, and no is no. In “The Rock”, when the nerdy FBI agent says to Sean Connery (who is ALWAYS Sean Connery) that he’ll do his best in an overwhelmingly difficult situation, Connery replies, “Your best? Losers whine about doing their best!” (He says more but not really repeatable here.)
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Oh, man, it’s been FOREVER since I’ve seen that movie! I’m going to have to track it down now. You just gotta love Sean Connery.
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Indeed the yes and no are both sufficient! Oh and an Arby’s roast beef. I haven’t had one of those in forever. I’m going to have to remedy that soon. I’m in the 5 spot this week.
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I hope you do get a sandwich, and I hope you sit and savor it as I did. Worth it!
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This is terrific! I love the combo of candor, admonition, and encouragement. Thanks for keeping it real.
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Nice to “meet” you, Alice! I’m pointing all the fingers at myself on this one. I struggle with anxiety and I’m beginning to wonder if some of that is rooted in not sticking to simple “yes” and “no.”
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Strong words of truth here, Marie. I never thought about saying we’ll try means probably not. Sadly, that’s too often true too. Thanks for these words that are speaking to me today.
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The Holy Spirit laid this one on me big time yesterday afternoon. I think there’s a new place of rest He’s drawing me to.
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Good morning and I agree about throwing caution to the wind once a year. Happy Birthday and enjoy the Arby’s Sandwich, As it sounds so good this morning.
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Thank you! Have you got a blog I can visit? I just don’t see it linked to your Gravatar profile. 🙂
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Beautifully said, Marie! Commitment and taking responsibility shows our genuine interest.
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That’s very true, Alice. We live in a culture that pressures us to always be interested, always be “on.” But we can’t do that. We have to have boundaries.
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I think roast beef once a year is totally acceptable 🙂
That verse is always convicting to me
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It was pretty awesome. 🙂 And that verse always convicts me, too.
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So true, saying we’re going to try to do something can often just be an excuse. We do have to take responsibility and be honest with ourselves because those mind games are all too easy to fall into. And I’m glad you enjoyed your birthday sandwich!
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The person we lie to the most is always ourselves. Wouldn’t it be refreshing if we practiced total honesty instead? As I said to Debby above, I think there’s some real rest to be found in that.
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Oh yes, I like this. I just really hope with that Arby’s sandwich, curly fries, you had horsey sauce and a Jamocha shake. Please say you did. xoxo
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I had the curly fries, but I can’t handle the horsey sauce. A Jamocha shake completely slipped my mind. Next year!
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This is a stripping-away-that-hiding-place-and-making-you-face-truth post, Marie. Thank you.
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I’m facing it right along with you.
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Great Truth spoken here, Marie. I’m convicted. Thanks.
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Marie-great perspective. I do say “I’ll try” if someone (usually a kid) is petitioning for something I’m not sure is a possiibility (spending time, fulfilling a request for a purchase, etc…) due to circumstances that are uncertain. But I agree that often we use the word without pondering on the commitment because it satisfies in the short term.
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