n' peppa

Because Jesus once used a metaphor about his followers being salt, there have been many who have used similar imagery to talk about the Christian's involvment in the world. One of the more popular books on evangelism speaks of Christians coming out of the saltshaker in order to influence the world. This is all well and good but begs the very simple question, "How do you get salt out of a saltshaker?"

As a food service professional, I would like to shed some light on this problem. I have witnessed many various approaches to the problem of transferring salt from its shaker onto the desired object and believe that I have found the best method. There are some who hold the saltshaker over their food and tap it slightly with their forefinger - this gets out a dash of salt. Some actually shake the shaker back and forth over their food which results in various amounts of salt dispersion (depending on the force and duration of the shaking process). Then there is the method assumed by a five-year-old girl who sought to quickly place a great deal of salt onto her napkin - she removed the top and dumped it.

[brief aside from a professional server: don't do this or allow others in your party to do this as someone must clean and refill - especially if it's me]

Now. . .after having observed these methods it seems that each approach has its particular value and/or setback. With the exception of five-year-old "Emily" (to protect those guilty), these salt dispersions were excecuted with the intent purpose of flavoring food. Emily did so only for fun. . .she hadn't even ordered yet. And there is a danger of interpreting Jesus' words as though they refered to salt as a flavoring agent. Because salt was, for the ancients, a preserving agent long before it became known as a flavor-enhancer.

So while flavor is a matter of taste, preserving depends upon how much one values something. In other words, the more value one places on something determines how hard one will work to preserve it. Jesus said himself that we are here to be that preserving force in this world. Although many think that we can just dash our influence here and there and call it a good day, we must remember that he cares so much for this world that he is not afraid to rip off the top and dump us right in the middle. . .and sometimes that can be a bit rough, only because passion is reckless.

Wake the dead. . .don't be content and just walk away*




*John Schlitt, "Wake the Dead" on Shake, 1995.