Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Bitter and Sweet (05/28/09)
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TITLE: Do Me A Flavor | Previous Challenge Entry
By Donna Powers
06/03/09 -
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I know that God knows us better than we know ourselves, but I was so sure of my purpose in life. Instead of sending me where I was sure I was destined to go, He sent me in the opposite direction.
Let me explain: I’m a taste bud. I look exactly like the 10,000 taste buds you’ve got on your own tongue and exactly like the other 9,999 taste buds on the tongue of the person I’ll be part of – so it’s not like you can tell by looking at me what kind of bud I should be. All of us look alike; it’s just the chemicals inside us that help us detect the types of foods we are meant to taste.
I was so sure I’d be a sweet taste bud: right up front, on the tip of the tongue, savoring all those sweet tastes that my human would be enjoying. I can so easily imagine them: fruits, juices, cakes and candies and pastries… endless sensations of pleasure.
But the Creator hardly gave me a glance before He sent me trudging to the back of the tongue. That’s right: He told me I’m a bitter bud.
Why? Why did God put me in this place that seems so contrary to my desires? Why did He even create a part of the tongue that can only sense the bitter tastes? Why didn’t He help humans avoid those tastes – or create even more sweet taste buds on the tongue? After all: aren’t the sweet tastes the best ones?
But here I am, stuck back here with the other bitter buds. If I couldn’t be sweet, it wouldn’t have been so bad to be part of the salty group. At least they get pretzels and chips. And I suppose my fate could be worse. I’m glad I didn’t end up being a sour buds. I wouldn’t really enjoy lemons and Sour Patch Kids as the highlight of my days.
It just doesn’t seem fair. I feel inside myself what I believe I should be; why doesn’t God see that and put me where I belong? Who does He think He is?
Oh.
Right.
He’s God.
Well… then, He must have a reason. Maybe by having some bitterness in her life, my human will learn to better appreciate the sweet things. Maybe if I do my job right, I can help her to remember to ask for God’s help when she experiences bitterness in life – as well as bitterness of taste. Maybe it won’t be so bad; after all, if He placed me here, there must be a Good reason.
Maybe I can look at this as a challenge. After all, it’s not really complicated tasting the sweet things. Those party animals up front don’t really have to work hard to taste candy and cookies; where I could be a warning to my human about what she shouldn’t eat – or use my discriminating chemicals to help her savor a more sophisticated treat.
When I look at it that way, maybe the Creator thinks I’m really special.
Turnips? Grapefruit? Kale? Bitter lemon? Quinine water? Bring 'em on! I’m going to be the best bitter bud I can be!
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