Every Grain

The grittiness between my fingers. The light weight of it cupped in the palm of my hand. But I’m not a beach person; I don’t fantasize about the sand. It is salt that I love.

Liberally douse the pasta water. Give a generous pinch to transform vegetables. Don’t forget desserts! Sprinkle a few flakes on caramel or chocolate. I perk up when Jesus speaks of salt. 

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet.”  Mt. 5:13

Sounds like Jesus is saying that it is good to be salty! I am the salt. You are the salt. Please pass the salt. I ponder. Jesus didn’t say, “Go be the salt.” He said, “you are the salt.” 

A great metaphor to savor. Am I feeling salty? Is it possible to lose my saltiness? Not exactly, science says. The problem, particularly with primitive salt mixtures, is that because sodium chloride is highly soluble, it can get washed away. Leaving only the grittiness of whatever is left. Without the taste. 

What waters down my salt? What dissolves me and causes me to lose effectiveness? Worth pondering. I’ve been thinking that I need a prayer partner; prayer is the high dry ground. Way back before my time, the NCF pastors met to pray at 6am every day. They might not miss the early mornings, but I find myself a bit jealous. That was a salty group!

Our taste buds determine how much salt we perceive, not what is actually there. This changes as our bodies change. Do we become dull to each other’s flavor? Do we forget that we are salt, or have less impact over time? Maybe we can become more concentrated, purified. So our salty presence is more like Bam! Salt. 

NaCl is very stable. I am encouraged by this. Salt is more stable than we realized. Perhaps I too am more stable than I knew. A simple chemical compound. Jesus’ faithfulness in an ionic bond with me. 

I don’t think this was meant to be a lecture. Jesus changes gears. “You are,” he says, shifting to another powerful metaphor, “the light of the world.” You are. Not, “you better get on it.” But you are. Don’t hide it. Because a city on a hill can’t be hidden. Like salt can’t actually lose its saltiness. Let yourself shine. (Mt 5:14-16)

A speck of light. A grain of salt. You are. We are. More stable than we realized. A force for good works that inspire God’s praise. May we live into this truth together. 

-Renée
Bulletin: 6/9
Order of Service: 6/9
Sermon: Transcending Boundaries through the Holy Spirit – Acts 2
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