One thing I really enjoy about being back in California are all the fresh fruits and vegetables. I stopped at Trader Joe's on Tuesday to pick up some more blueberries, another food item that not only tastes good but is good for you. When I stopped there the day before, Monday, the worker said they come in every day, but they were sold out. So when I stopped yesterday I went in the morning to get there before they were gone.
The worker I talked to yesterday, who I think was more knowledgeable than the first one, said we were currently in the "window" where blueberries are not available. I was disappointed, to say the least.
But as I pondered this, I realized that one difficulty about being back in California is the plethora of opportunities for getting whatever we want when we want it. There is little need for delayed gratification. In Iowa we didn't have blueberries for a window of about ten months, not ten days. It is great that they are more readily available, but then they become something that we expect and not anticipate. That is, we really appreciate blueberries when we have only two months to enjoy them instead of 50 weeks to appreciate them.
Are there other things we have become so accustomed to having that we don't really appreciate as much as we should? What about the availability of our Bible, or of having a church to go to without fear of persecution, or the community that God gives us to support us or challenge us in our faith?
I am thankful for the faithful ones I meet and the opportunities I have to worship and grow in faith with a beloved community. Are you thankful? Are you connected? We would love to have you join us. Don't wait until snowballs are in season, but come join us this Sunday.
Hope to see you soon,
Pastor Randy
P.S. I also like dried cranberries and they keep better than blueberries with no time of being out of season.
