The Message of the Pepper

"Wow, Dad, that's a lot of stuff on your hamburger," Elliot said to me.

I looked up, a bit surprised from the construction site on my plate.  On my bun was a burger, followed by a thick slice of pepper jack cheese, followed by lettuce, two tomato slices, pickles and a mixture of southwest spicy mustard and ketchup.  It was definitely the sort of edifice to make the designers of the pyramids jealous.

"It's almost done," I said.  From a plate I took four slices of jalapeno pepper and placed them on top of my sandwich.  Now, I usually don't put jalapenos on my sandwiches, but my beautiful wife had decided to get a few jalapeno pepper plants for our garden and no one else in my family would eat them.  Being a good steward, I didn't want to see them go to waste.

I placed the top part of the bun on top and looked my creation in the eye.  Then I took a large bite. 

For a moment, everything tasted great with all of the normal tastes mixing around my taste buds and then it was all overwhelmed with a strong flavor of jalapeno.  The capsaicin was kicking in.

I know that there are many peppers that are a lot hotter than jalapenos, but honestly, the whole time I was eating the sandwich all I could taste was the spicy peppers and even an hour later, my tongue was still tingling from the experience.

I thought that next time I might just go a bit lighter on the peppers -- or maybe leave them off entirely.

It made me think about the impact that each one of us has on others.  Obviously there are many different parts of our personalities and character that strike people when we meet them, but often there is something about us that stands out and sticks with people. 

It might be our kindness, generosity, or it could just as easily be our selfishness and unwillingness to listen.  There is one thing that people will carry away from their time with us.

Jesus told His followers "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

This then is the way to let those around know who we are following and to leave an impression that lasts far longer than a spicy pepper does on a protesting tongue.