A Throwdown

Heartburn...

...was what I began feeling around 10:30 last night.

During the 7pm service last night, I challenged one of the Junior Highers to a jalapeno eating throwdown (that’s a contest, in case you’re wondering). They weren’t raw peppers but the pickled kind, so they weren’t quite as hot as they would otherwise be. Still, they lit a little fire in my mouth! (Delayed reaction, too! It took about 2 minutes for the heat to really kick in…and it lingered for about 15 minutes.)

I really like spicy food. Doesn’t matter if it’s Mexican or Chinese chilies, or Thai or Indian curry. I haven’t found a spice that I didn’t like.

I ate 15 slices. That was after eating a couple of really yummy Oaxacan tacos upon which I put probably 10-12 slices only 30 minutes earlier. My challenger? 10 slices. Not bad…not bad at all!

Gastro-intestinal disturbances...

...were what I experienced upon waking this morning at 6…

Afterburn…

...was what I felt this morning upon my two visits to the… Hmmm... maybe that’s too much information.

Todd and I had a conversation this morning that was very helpful to me. (I Thank God for putting people in my life who can help me see things about myself—both good and not so good—that I can’t see.) Todd and I both agreed that one of the vulnerabilities of my teacher-gifting is that I can make things too structured and formulaic in life. I don’t have to worry about not explaining things well or planning them out enough. What I can stand to do is allow myself to be a bit more…spontaneous (think: Jalapeno eating).

For a teacher, studying, teaching and learning can become ends in themselves. God’s word is so exciting! So simple and at the same time, so deep and profound. But learning and knowing God’s word is a means to an end—not the end in itself. I’ve been talking to the Junior Highers about how God wants us to progress from knowers to doers. The point of all this learning is to be changed by it and do things with it that will change others. Like having spontaneous fun serving…and eating pickled peppers.

So, what’s all this have to do with a jalapeno eating throwdown? Not that much, really. That’s the point. Life’s serious enough, challenging enough, and painful enough on its own—i.e., without me adding to it by always taking myself or things too seriously. There are a lot of parties in the Bible. God’s people have historically done a good job at having fun and celebrating life. I want to follow their example more and more.

Hmmm… I wonder what the throwdown will be next week.