Stop Settling For Mud Pies
It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
C.S. Lewis
It can be difficult to obtain lasting contentment and fulfillment, especially when we fall for the lies, false promises, and “mud pies” of the world.
Pretend Intimacy
In 2008, I took an amazing one-month trip to Costa Rica by myself. There were three other travelers staying with my host family. Towards the end of the trip, there was one night when we all came out of our rooms and sat on the rooftop. We talked for hours about our unique discoveries in Costa Rica, cultural differences, relationships, funny experiences, and our dreams. The conversation was unfiltered, real, raw, and beautiful. Isn’t it amazing how complete strangers can have such a memorable conversation?
I think that it was easier for us to share so intimately with one another because we were so far removed from our normal environment. We weren’t worried about work or school, and we were not hanging onto a grudge with each other because we didn’t have any grudges. We knew that the time that we had together was short, so sharing our hearts with each other felt risk-free.
This realization makes me somewhat sad. In our “real” lives, how often do we settle for “pretend intimacy”? Comments on social media and digital conversations become the highlights of our day instead of authentic face-to-face interactions with our loved ones. Sometimes we see our loved ones on a regular basis, but we settle for superficial conversations instead of making an effort to share what is really on our minds. We would rather attempt to conquer our endless to-do lists instead of making a deep connection with our kids and spouses. Is this how God wanted us to live?
Fake Food
Like most people, I have eaten my fair share of processed junk food or “fake food”, and I used to love it. At first, it was difficult for me to give up certain foods. It is now easier each day to say No, and if real food were more accessible, I would almost have no problem refusing it. It’s not as hard for me to make healthier choices now because I am continuously learning about the dangers of eating fake foods (I also battle with an autoimmune condition that spirals out of control if I eat too much of it). I have learned that the foods that God originally created for us to eat are the foods that can heal our bodies—they are also the most satisfying and delicious.
Sub-Par Health
Have you recently received a devastating health diagnosis? Maybe the doctor has just told you that you will have to be on a certain medication for the rest of your life, or that you will always struggle with a certain chronic illness.
I appreciate and respect my peers in the medical community, but unfortunately, they are often wrong. The body is a mysterious, amazing creation of God. If your healthcare practitioner is telling you what you need to do, it is your choice if you want to do it or not.
The truth is, sometimes we simply accept certain diagnoses and treatments without knowing that there is a better solution. Instead of searching for a sustainable, gentle, natural solution, we choose to believe that there is no other way—we choose to believe that our particular diagnosis means that we will always suffer from strange symptoms and that we must endure the side effects of a certain drug forever.
Worthless Religion
We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Isaiah 64:6 ESV
Our good deeds, our efforts to follow the rules, and our desires to be a kind-hearted person are worthless to save us from the eternity that we deserve. In the end, a life without God is a life that promises unattainable contentment and eternal suffering. Religion without Jesus is worthless. When we make Jesus the lord of our lives, he gives us a life full of meaning and the free gift of eternal life.
What “mud pies” are you settling for in your own life?
