A Change in Taste

I hate coffee. This sad reality has not always been true for me. For years I enjoyed two cups of coffee every morning. Strong, black coffee. No creamers, no sweeteners, no flavorings. I loved coffee - until the one fateful day when I began to hate it.

This dramatic change occurred as the result of a concussion. If you know me well, you could justifiably assume that my head injury came from one of my crazy stunts or from an obstacle course race. However, this particular injury happened while I was trying to save my toddler from falling off a platform on the playground. I attempted to thrust myself quickly onto the platform and in the process catapulted myself into a metal monkey bar. I fell to the ground in starry, dazed confusion while another mom saved my kid.

Recovering from my concussion was tough. It took months for the headaches to subside and for my short-term memory to resume. In time my brain began to function properly again, but my sense of taste was affected - and is still affected to this day. I had no idea that bumping my head hard enough could alter my sense of taste. Sadly, I will probably never enjoy coffee again. I try coffee in vain every few months with the hope that I will like it again. This morning was one such time. Same conclusion: I hate coffee. (Yes, I understand that the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over expecting different results!)

When I became a Christian, there was a different kind of change in my taste. God gave me new eyes to see my utter sinfulness. The sinful things that had once given me pleasure were all of a sudden repulsive to me. I began to have an appetite for the things of God and could rejoice with the psalmist by saying, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth" (Psalm 119:103).

Does this change in taste mean that I never nibble (or feast) on sin? Unfortunately, no. Sin looks appetizing. It promises much enjoyment and will follow through on that promise temporarily. I often lose sight of the true satisfaction that is found only in Christ. There is battle raging in the minds and hearts of believers. I can empathize with Paul when he laments, "[W]hen I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:21-25). We need to ask God to strengthen our appetite for him so we will long for the nourishment only he can provide. We won't reach perfection this side of heaven, but we should be striving toward holiness in our lives.

I'll try coffee again in a few months, and I'm sure I'll be reminded that I do not like coffee. May I not continue to try to savor the things of this world. However, when I inevitably do, may the God of grace allow my tongue to taste only bitterness in my sin and to find my delight only in him so I can sing, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalm 34:8).