A few minutes later, another growl escapes from beneath your cardigan. Eyes from around the room meet yours in embarrassment. Your face turns red as your entire class seems to turn around in your direction. You put your head down and try to cover up the noise, but it grows. To you, the noise is deafening. Louder than a train racing down the tracks. Obvious to everyone.
You have no where to go. Minutes drag by as you squirm and dream of your craving being met. Time, not matter how fast it's going, is going much too slow.
You slip your computer into your bag quickly in anticipation of your professor ending class for the afternoon early. Finally.. your professor dismisses you. Your hand reaches for your bag and you bolt out of the door, ready to get your hands on something to end the discomfort you've dealt with all morning. Your boots click-clack across the tile floor as you strut down the marble hallway. Your hand reaches for the cold metal on the door handle, knowing what is waiting on the other side.
As the door swings open, you have a choice. To your right, there is a food cart, stocked with yogurt, fruit, granola bars and sandwiches. You gaze at the options, wanting to devour all of the contents in a split second.
To your left, there is a trash can. On the cold, silver tin of the trash can, a picture is taped haphazardly to the lid, fluttering in the wind. The picture promises the contents of the can to be yummy, delicious and.. satisfying. You see flies surrounding it and fumes oozing out from all around it. You can smell the foul stench emanating from it from yards away. You frown in disgust.
The choice seems natural. The cart that boasts of healthy, filling options is the obvious pick. But.. that trash can. There's just something about it.
You think to yourself, "That picture says it will SATISFY! It doesn't seem like it would.. but maybe..."
Without taking the lid off of the can and peaking inside, you will never know what you're missing.. Right? What if it does satisfy? What if you miss out on what is inside? How will you ever know unless you look for yourself?
So.. you start walking towards the trashcan. You know it's a bad idea. Your heart thumps louder than a steel drum as your feet stride swiftly towards the foul object in front of you. After a few strides, you find yourself in arms length of what could satisfy you. Finally, your hands touch the cold, clammy handle on top of the lid. Your fingers latch on and lift it up.
As you glance into the trashcan, your eyes are met with nothing but filth. Vile, disgusting, grotesque filth. But.. it promises satisfaction, right? Maybe you should dig through it to make sure you aren't missing anything. I mean, why not?
Your hands plunder. As you dig deeper, you find yourself in the bottom of the trashcan, searching for anything, ANYTHING that may ease your ache. Still, nothing. Your ache grows. You reach for what you think will be delightful, but find it is destructive. Over and over, you reach. Your hands outstretched, finding nothing to hold on to.
After days, months, years of digging.. you finally crawl to the top. After crawling through filth, you feel like a cloud of dust is following you. Your hair is in knots and your fingernails are dirty. You are tired. HUNGRY. Worn down. Satisfaction was never found. The ache of hunger has overtaken you. You try and decide whether or not to stay in the mess, or try and get out. Then, it dawns on you. The other stand. It's there. Still there.
You find your way out of the trash can. You're on your feet, running for your second choice. Dirt falls off of your clothes as you fight to get to the stand, scared it may leave at any second. You take the fruit and eat. Immediately, satisfaction. Wholeness. Fullness. Your filth is hosed off of you, leaving a muddy circle at your feet. No more digging through trash to meet your hunger. Satisfied. Delighted. Full.
He is there. Always waiting for His children to find their way out of the muck. He is patient. Gently reminding. Tenderly guiding. Lovingly coaxing. The taste of His goodness is unmatchable. Unreal. All satisfying. Choose Him. Sit at the table and eat.
Psalm 17:5 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
Phil. 4:11-12 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Isaiah 55:1 Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
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