Soul Cravings

Tanya had a meeting in Olympia today so I decided to drive with her and do some work from a local coffe shop. I found a very cool place called Batdorf and Bronson. Of course I split my time between watching people and doing work. Olympia has a unique mix of folks. Take a handful of college students from the Ave, a small group from Capitol Hill, a group of artsy folks from Freemont, throw in a few Belltown kids and then toss in about eight downtown business people in suits. Take the whole bunch, shake 'em up and throw them in a coffee shop. Boom Ba-da Bing! Your in Olympia.

I had a great seat right by the window so I could watch the people coming and going as well as those walking down the street. I observed something I haven't seen in a while. A young girl, maybe 19, walked up to two guys at a table right outside my window and tried to bum a smoke off them. When they hopeful two turned into a dry well, she turned to the ground under the bench. Soon she emerged holding a 1" butt. Without even skipping a beat she lit the thing up and started puffing away. I remember once in sixth grade my buddy and I found a butt that was almost half a cigarette. We lit that bad boy up, but after a short conversation about who may have started it, we threw it too the ground and stomped it out. She must have really been craving a smoke bad.

Today as we were driving back home I starting thinking about my own cravings. How often do the cravings of my soul drive me to do whatever it takes to get more of God. David expressed this in the Psalms, just as a deer pants for water so my soul pants after you. Not only is my soul satisfied and nourished by God, but how desperate am I in my dependance on him. Am I fully aware of my need for him? Has my pride hidden the need from my mind?

The truth is, when I get down to the truth, I desperately need God and my soul is satisfied in a divine and mysterious way when I turn to him. I know from experience that a small taste of God causes and desire for more. So now the question is: am I willing to do whatever it takes to get more? Am I willing to get on my knees? Am I willing to huimble myslef in front of people? Even go so far as to humiliate myself?

My soul truly does crave more.

I will do whatever it takes.