Cravings
The Covid virus has disrupted much of what and how we live. It has also provided space to examine things like my cravings. Somehow craving is a notch up from desiring. Often a word used in the field of addiction, craving suggests a driving force, not to be stopped until satiated. Chocolate lovers know what craving is, they have their own unique need; dark or milk chocolate, Hershey, or Lindt, with or without nuts. I’m partial to fried clams, and when the craving comes it’s time for a road trip. Cravings affect our physical, mental, and spiritual being. Some are deleterious, temptations of the worst sort that present as spiritual warfare. Others, like the craving for justice, peace, and unity, drive us to better ourselves, indeed our communities. The cravings that create addictions, such as drugs or pornography, destroy both the individual and corporate soul.
Lately I have been craving a pre-Covid moment, a night on the town or going to church and singing, to see people smiling – masks off. I think the Psalmist was blessed with a craving for God. In every situation, the focus was God, praying, singing praises, arguing, pleading, and most of all – thanking.
Parents crave for their children to be well-adjusted, happy, independent, and successful. But most of all, I think parents crave for their children and grandchildren to have a faith life, a relationship with Jesus. This craving is so powerful that they don’t even care if they are United Methodists – as long as they belong to a church, a faith community. This craving is their prayer.
I wonder what God craves for you and me. I seriously doubt that Jesus craves for me to be wealthy. I think he craves for me to be united in Him and with Him in his ministry, his purpose, and his love. The list of Christ’s cravings for me are a combination of love letters and marching orders. On one hand I am deep in prayer, and on the other arranging for meals for the homeless. Developing a craving to please God is scary, because this craving for God disrupts my own plans. Suddenly, where I spend my time, my talents, my treasure, is directed toward this new partnership with Jesus.