Sometimes I’m embarrassed about my passion. It doesn’t seem like it is a real thing someone could be truly passionate about because it’s self-gratifying and indulgent. It’s not going to change the world nor will it bring people closer to Jesus. I am mindful about how I talk about it because it couldn’t possibly be something from the Lord or used for His glory.
Hi, I’m Khari Chanel and I like to eat food.
Everyone likes to eat, right? Thanksgiving is an American holiday devoted to stuffing our faces full of an excessive amount of food. We all enjoy eating, but I think my friends and family would say that I’ve taken it too far, like beyond obsessive. It’s all I talk about. I dream about the next time I get to eat. I plan my next meal while eating. I spend more time looking at menus than I do on Facebook. It’s a problem and sometimes I feel silly about liking and obsessing over food as much as I do.
The World Race allows me to travel to some incredible places and so I get to eat insanely delicious food all over the world. I like to treat myself to special meals beyond my $4 per day meal budget because food is that important to me to spend my own money. I’m not living or travelling with people who have the same affinity for good food or at least see the value of spending their personal money on food, as I do. There’s some for sure, but I definitely have to be sensitive to the people who don’t want to spend money, which makes me want to hide my passion.
Cambodia had some fantastic food, my favorite country food-wise, thus far. We lived in the middle of nowhere surrounded by rice fields and had no access to running water, but the food was top-notch. This sweet man Sina, who didn’t speak a bit of English, prepared the most flavorful sauces and dishes on an open fire. Eating was about the most exciting that happened each day, as we had a LOT of free time. We taught English for about 2 hours a day for ministry, if the guys actually showed up. I enjoyed all the free time. It gave the Lord plenty of time to talk to me and tell me His plans for my life.
The Lord revealed some guidelines to me about what’s in store for my future. And while I’m still a tad insecure about discerning the Lord’s voice from my own, I have to trust that this is what He said because He provided confirmation through scripture and my sisters in Christ, and continues to reveal himself to me in other ways. The Lord has bestowed incredible favor and blessings throughout my life and will continue to do so in magnitude.
He said: “KHARI, THIS IS WHY AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO WITH IT.
I’ve given you the good life Khari, and I just want you to share my glory with the world. I’ve entrusted you with sharing my riches and getting the Westerners back on board for what I have to offer them. I’m equipping you for your next mission. This year is about preparing you for the life ahead of you in your task to bring them to the Kingdom. I’m showing you how to serve the third world to ready you for serving the first world. This is part of your future… the good life, to set an example to those I place around you, to pull them out of their selfish ways. It’s going to be harder to get a rich man into Heaven than getting a camel to walk through a needle. Your future involves food, the finer things in life, serving people and wanting nothing but the best for them. That’s what I’m preparing you for.”
Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best,
fill yourself with only the finest.
Pay attention, come close now,
listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.
I’m making a lasting covenant commitment with you,
the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love.
I set him up as a witness to the nations,
made him a prince and leader of the nations,
And now I’m doing it to you:
You’ll summon nations you’ve never heard of,
and nations who’ve never heard of you
will come running to you
Because of me, your God,
because The Holy of Israel has honored you.”
Isaiah 55:2-5 (The Message)
The Lord also revealed his desire for me to bring back Christian hospitality and to study and share how it is done in the Good Book. Jesus was incredibly hospitable. His first miracle was turning water into wine, accommodating the needs of the people at a wedding. There are so many examples in the Bible displaying the importance of food, i.e. land of milk and honey, manna from Heaven, bread and wine at Communion, etc. Our human lives center around meals and the dinner table. We celebrate life and mourn heartbreak around a table. Food is essential to the human society.
Of course, the Lord gave me my passion for food.
He just wants me to spread the Gospel while stuffing my face with a croissant and serve the spiritually poor people the way He would.
