Meal-Ready-To-Eat

I ate an MRE a few days ago.  It was supposed to be some sort of pork rib, kind of like a McRib without the bun.  And there was this clever arrangement where a heat packet could be activated by pouring a couple of canteen caps of water into it.  It worked… got too hot to touch.  The taste of that meat stayed with me all day. 

A packet of applesauce with raspberry was delicious, although suspiciously over-sweet.  And there was a pouch of dry cappuccino and another of pretzels – all perfectly preserved.  Included were all the needed tools, condiments, and a paper napkin.  Everything was kaki colored and sealed in a heavy plastic bag. 

Then like I needed a revelation, I read the label. 

If our troops in the field need two thousand grams of salt in each Meal-Ready-To-Eat, and enough sugar to make a tray of brownies, that’s fine, but it’s poison to me. 

So, taking this to the next level, a brief and mild episode of hate in my life might be the impulse for some serious thought, a new perspective, and maybe betterment as I return to love.  But making hate and anger a substantial and regular part of my spiritual diet is going to make me a sick person.  In that state I could do a lot of damage to myself, to others, and to God’s creation. 

We can’t make hate go away, but we can recognize it when it erupts.  What we see is what we get. 

As you ramble on through life folks,

Whatever be your goal. 

Keep your eye upon the doughnut,

And not upon the hole. 

Oh.  Doughnuts are unhealthy too.  Let me start over…