Theresa and I were finishing our 500 mile trip across Oklahoma, without touching a freeway, so we could eat at Clanton's in Vinita. As seen on the Food Channel, they have excellent chicken fried steak, and we had made it our destination for dinner. With mashies and green beans, and lots of gravy. No room for desert, so we finished the day riding through Kansas and spent the night in Springfield, Missouri. Across the street from a Steak and Shake, a great reason to love the Midwest. Over 70 years of decadently great shakes. A few years ago on Torches we had all eaten at one, and they gave us hats to wear-I gotta find the pictures. But their shakes are the best. So, inhaling we walked across the street while visions of a strawberry shake danced in my head. There is always room for one, and looking at the menu for new flavors-I had pumpkin last time, noted they had fat free, lo-cal frozen yogurt shakes. Which being calorie conscious, after the 3000 calorie CFS, decided to have instead. It tasted so good until I read the calorie chart-it had only 60 calories less than the real thing! I gave up 60 calories and missed the real thing! I just burned up 60 calories in disappointment. Full, yes. Filled, yes. Fulfilled, no. There is a difference. Guess I'll just have to go back again.
My next stop, on a different trip, was to Primanti Bros. in Pittsburgh. Known for their unique sandwiches-meat, a handful of fresh cut fries, and a handful of Italian slaw, packed between two slices of hand cut Italian bread, and served on waxed paper-as a proper sandwich should be. They now had locations all over the city's metro area, but I wanted the original, downtown in the strip area, under the 16th Street Bridge, since 1923. So I did, even followed their directions, which took me down an alley, into an OLD industrial area. Cautiously parking the Tiger, I went inside, and smelled 80+ years of fried delight. Ordering the #2, their all time best seller, cheese steak, I sat at the counter and watched as the same woman I had seen on the Food Channel prepared it. Note-I pity the fool that would ask for a Philly cheese steak in Steeler town! And it was as good as it looked. The only drawback was Theresa was not there to share it with. There are four parts to a good meal-the food, the service, the location, and who you eat it with. I had no one except this guy grunting at the TV next to me at the counter to tell how I had ridden 2500 to eat here, so I didn't, enjoying my meal alone. 3 for 4 is a good night at the ballpark, just ok at dinner. Full-yes. Filled-burp, yes. Fulfilled, no. Alone, yes.
We start our days with God, with an appetite this way, and it is up to us what to fill them with. Too many times life interferes with our plans, and we get filled up with TV, work, family, motorcycles, or PTA. Leaving little time for God. And by Sunday we can be spiritually famished, we are filled up, but not fulfilled. With me it takes a conscious effort to read the Bible, pray often, then meditate on God. But I find that when I do, I am fulfilled, and filled with joy. Joy can be an interesting acronym-Jesus, Others, You. And when He is first, all things get added to you. Fulfillment. Others next. Deny yourself, and minister to others. Watch the blessings come as you set out to be a blessing to others. Then you. Last, where you should be. But without you, it would just be Jo. It takes all three for JOY, and to be fulfilled. And joy is not an emotion, happiness is. Happiness depends on situations, like my meals above. Joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God. Joy never has to change-but we let it. Just like my low cal choice left me wishing I had the real thing, Jesus wants you to have every blessing He has for you. Which can include no. As you will see.
Our last meal is in Birmingham, Alabama, after being told by a docent at the Barber Motorsports Museum-a must see for bikers of all types-to eat at this certain bbq restaurant. When we arrived there, the mall it was in had a power outage. As Theresa was about to faint from hunger, I felt God had something better. Stopping by Bogart's BMW-Triumph, they recommended the Golden Rule. From the time we walked in, and had our drinks before we sat down, you knew God had shown us joy in something better. When I asked what was Brunswick stew, she brought me a cup, not just a taste. From the brisket, to the beans, the cole slaw, and pulled pork, this was the best bbq we had ever had. Period. And I almost lost a digit trying to get a taste of Theresa's Ice Box Chocolate cake. All this with just enough conversation with the waitress, meeting Michael the pit boss, and having my picture taken with him-cooking there since 1974. The only disappointment in our under $15 meal was just missing the woman who makes the beans-as she had for over 55 years, with no recipe. They were concerned she would die with the recipe because it wasn't written down. Full-oh, yeah! Filled-let me find a place to sleep! Fulfilled-like no other meal, and God had provided it, with joy for us. Great food, great place, great service, and my favorite dinner date. And of course the maitre'd of my life Jesus.
So next time you choose to snack before the meal is done, wait. Don't miss the full course He has for you. God wants you to enjoy it all, with Him. Put Him first-He knows the best restaurants, has an in with the cooks and waitresses, and every day with Him is special-not just the daily special. Jesus Christ-still feeding the hungry after 2000 years. And if your waitresses name happens to be joy, tell her Jesus sent you. And leave her fulfilled, in Christ.
Now if I only had room for dessert...
love with compassion,
Mike
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