***
Snacking may very well be the new American pastime. According to a recent survey, 94% of Americans admit to snacking at least once a day.
50% admit to snacking three times per day!
I spoke to someone earlier who said, “Father, I suffer from lack-a-snack-a-phobia.”
“Lack-a-snack-a-phobia?” I said. “What’s that?”
I’m afraid of missing a snack, so I always carry a bag of chips in my purse!
Someone else said to me, “Father, I must be in that 6% that doesn’t snack. I have a drink instead. Then I eat!”
***
If you think about it, there are plenty of opportunities to sneak something sweet or salty in between meals.
There are the Hershey kisses hidden in our office drawer; that bag of chips tucked into our purse; or whatever we can find in the pantry when we get the late nite “munchies.”
And there isn’t just one cause for snacking.
Some snackers are hungry. But most of us snack when we’re tired, stressed, or bored.
There’s something incredibly satisfying about opening a bag of Rolled Gold pretzels and popping a few pretzels while trying to turn your brain off.
***
The key ingredient behind nearly every snack is salt.
Just a pinch of it goes a long way.
On the other hand, the absence of salt makes food taste incredibly bland. For example, have you ever had a pretzel without any salt?
It’s flavorless, if not borderline disgusting.
I even tried a bag of “low sodium” pretzels. Never again. It felt like I was eating cardboard. Pretzels, like almost every snack or dish out there, need a good pinch of salt.
***
In the Gospel, Jesus tells us, “You are the salt of the earth.”
Not, “You should be.” Not, “You may be.” Not, “You might want to think about.” No. We are the salt of the earth.
We flavor the world around us, much like salt flavors a pretzel.
And we only need to offer a “pinch” of salt – a “pinch” of love – to begin changing the world around us.
A little love – like a little salt – goes a long way.
***
But so does a pinch of hatred.
As Christians, we must sprinkle a pinch of love – not hate – throughout the day.
***
How many of our children, for example, open up their lunch box at school only to find a note from mom or dad?
A few words of encouragement can turn their frown upside down.
Or think about how good we feel when someone offers us a compliment. “Did you just get your haircut?”
“Yeah, it’s a little short. What do you think?”
“Looks great!”
Everyone loves affirmation, particularly young people who often struggle with developing a health self-image.
For them and for us, a little love goes a long way, much like a pinch of salt.
***
So how can I be a saltier Christian?
Maybe it means taking the time to visit someone who’s sick; re-directing a conversation drenched in gossip; being a little more considerate, a little less judgmental; or kinder to those at work.
The opportunities are endless – and simple.
***
94% of Americans admit to snacking.
And most often, we snack because we’re stressed.
But if we show one another just a little more love – a pinch of salt, as it were – then we may find ourselves smiling more and snacking less.