Toothpaste ?

Returning home from a job readying a steam boiler for inspection early Saturday morning I remembered that I was out of toothpaste. I spied the HEB sign from almost three traffic lights away and recalled the memories of aisle # 8, a virtual shrine to the jelly bean with every color and flavor under heaven. But my resolve was strong and I was above and beyond those temptations; so I marched past the endless rows of fresh fruits and vegetables with my integrity intact. Then I was engulfed by the smells from the bakery. The essence of fresh baked breads and cookies quaffed up into my nostrils as I staggered past the displays of pastries, pies and tartlets. I regained my resolve as I passed the health food section. I recalled…we were also out of peanut butter. I did not want that organic stuff my wife buys, you know, the kind that spreads like dried stucco. I wanted the real thing with all the trans-fats, saturated fats and hydrogenated whatever. I also grabbed a large jar of black raspberry jam making sure the word “REDUCED” did not appear anywhere on the label. As I passed a “help yourself” bulk display of treats…my eye caught sight of chocolate covered raisins. I decided I needed something from the fruit group to balance my diet so I loaded a couple of large scoops into a bag…actually I added a partially filled third scoop just for good measure. I could feel my will power slowly softening like chocolate left in the summer sun. Then I passed the infamous aisle # 8…I quickly filled a bag with Cherry Sours and tucked it under the loaf of white bread as if to hide it from my guilt…but at this point I knew I was done for. I slinked to the check-out and stood there as the checker scanned the ice cream, potato chips, and pizza; not to mention all the other processed and preservative filled man-made products that delight my taste buds and leave my body mal-nourished.

I couldn’t help but think…is this the way it is going to be on judgment day…with God scanning my grocery list of sins, as it prints out for the whole world to see.

Maybe I need to start taking better care of my body and my soul.

Dear Lord,
I know once the toothpaste is out of the tube it is almost impossible to get it back in. So please, Lord Jesus, help me avoid all those places that do no benefit to my body or my soul. Please help me to just “not go there”.
Amen.