Granola Bar Theology

I don’t know about you, but I need to eat three meals a day. I envy those of you who can have a cup of coffee for breakfast and feel satisfied until lunch. Or those of you who can eat a bowl of popcorn or a pint of ice cream for dinner. If I did that, my body would just throw me into deeper pangs of hunger.

My worst nightmare is to be invited to an event with “light appetizers.” After trays of stuffed mushrooms, my stomach says, “Are you kidding me? Where is dinner?” It’s just how I’m wired.

It’s not just three meals a day that I need to feel satisfied. Sometimes, I need a boost in between those three meals. Years ago, I started the habit of never leaving home without a granola bar in my purse. My kids tease me that when I die, they are going to throw some granola bars in my casket. I don’t argue with it. I don’t know how long that trip home is going to be.

The thing is, when I get hungry, I get irritated and crabby. I’m off my game. The mild headache and lack of focus leaves me unable to be the best version of me. I feel unsatisfied. All it takes to get me back on track is a granola bar.

Granola bars satisfy a hungry belly, but hunger isn’t always physical.

In our world today, there is a hunger for peace, connection, unity, compassion, and love. We need three meals a day of these things and more, in between those meals. Our hearts are very hungry. They aren’t satisfied with the bread of this world. We try to satisfy that hunger with the light appetizers that the advertising world and social media feed us, but our hearts know better. They long for a real meal.

The words of a familiar hymn say it all:

You satisfy the hungry heart
with gift of finest wheat, come give to us,
oh saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.

Maybe it’s time we fed our hearts three meals a day of God’s provisions. Fill up on His presence and promises. Snack on His words. And never leave home without Him.

Joan