You Are (Kind of) What You Chew On

The other night, a friend of mine gave me some grapes that were left over from a Bible study we'd had at her house. Then, while at Trader Joe's, I bought some Concord grapes, because they make an amazing dessert when frozen! Then, while at a dinner, I considered taking home the leftover grapes we'd had. Upon reflecting, I thought, "I am going to turn into a grape if I keep doing this."

Did your mom ever tell you that as a kid? Like, if you ate too many carrots, you'd turn into one? That actually almost happened to a guy many years ago. He didn't actually turn into a carrot, obviously, but his skin did take on an orange tone from the beta carotene...

Anyway, all this talk of food morphing got me to thinking figuratively. No, we aren't what we eat physically. But we actually do become like what we allow our minds and bodies to dwell on. Do you ever wonder why you feel jittery after a horror movie, or why you feel a hopeful adrenaline rush after a chick flick? Nothing in your personal life happened to make you feel that way, but we humans tend to take on that upon which we gaze.

Still not sure about this? Consider this story*:

One time my daughter Sarah was playing a video game. It was part of The Legend of Zelda series that involves wizards, demons, and other occultic symbols. I told her that the game had elements of darkness in it, and that she needed to be careful. She told me she could handle it.

Soon, what used to be temper tantrums became fits of rage. At times she ripped holes in our screens, and she once slammed a door into the wall so hard it went right through the wall. God showed me that the video games were opening a door in her life to this anger.

I explained to Sarah what was going on, and I insisted that she throw the game away. She did. From that point on, her mind was clearer, and her behavior changed.

Think about the things you desire for your life and that of your family. I'll use myself as an example. For me, being a woman of integrity is important. I value justice, truth, and life giving pleasure. I value healthy, communicative relationships as well. Above all, I desire to enjoy this world in the context of relationship with the God who made me.

If I want these things to be in my life, it's important to know that input yields output. In other words, am I putting things into my life that will yield this outcome? Or am I drinking in things that actually hinder it, wondering why I am getting bad results? Here are some questions for me to consider:

1. Is the music I listen to speaking truth about my femininity, my friends, and my God?
I can think back to a time when Billboard's Top 40 was my Top 40. I observe in retrospect how songs like Shania Twain's I Feel Like a Woman influenced how I dressed and what I thought was feminine. I recall listening to songs about relational revenge and not letting anyone hurt me, yet wondering why forgiveness-filled relationships eluded me. Now, I listen to songs about the character of God, and the purpose He has for me. I find myself not having to vie for men's attention, and more able to have good friendships where I'm willing to be vulnerable.
2. What kind of TV/movies do I watch?
I used to be big on crime dramas. I also used to have the occasional nightmare, and I usually slept fitfully. Even though I didn't realize it, my thoughts re: crime were filled with justice and revenge, not God's grace. But one night I had a dream in which I was told, "Crime dramas are becoming increasingly sinister." I stopped watching them immediately, and the result has been decrease of fear, and an increase of kindness in me!
3. What images do I allow myself to dwell on?
I like the Food Network. It's come to my attention lately that I let what I see determine what I am hungry for, though. Like, if I watch Cupcake Wars, I suddenly want a cupcake. This is deceit, though! Your body actually has something called biofeedback, which is a natural mechanism for knowing what you need to eat.When we let images hijack this, we end up eating (or wearing, watching, buying) what we don't really want or need! So when I watch a show like that, I now pay specially attention to what my body really wants, disallowing deceitful thoughts. And if I'm not feeling strong to do that, I just find something else to watch.

It's a sensory world, but we can exercise our own discernment to disallow lies have a say in our lives. We can have the lives we know we were made for, and when we stop the flow of lies, our life will open up. For me, when I began watching movies about genuine hope (I don't mean Pollyanna type stories of fake things, but stories of real people whose struggles were no match for God's love), I began to hope for better things in my life. Then I began to seek better things, and to receive better!

So be mindful of what you are 'eating.' Don't be ashamed, because we are all susceptible to taking in what we don't need. Just be honest with yourself so that you can have better results. Take time to evaluate your goals and desires for your life, and get excited! Then see if what you're taking in is either hindering or enabling you. Ask God why you feel the need for these hindrances, and let Him show you. As a natural result, you will begin to have a taste for better things, and you'll start to seek them out!

Happy intaking!

*Story paraphrased from p. 105 of Spiritual Housecleaning by Eddie and Alice Smith.