So back in the month of May I had this interesting idea that I wanted t see what it's like to be vegan. Read it here: My Vegan Challenge. Here is what I learned:
1. Ethical investing. I deeply appreciate how many people choose to put much thought into where their money goes. They want to make ethical choices with their expenses as much as they can by purchasing products that come from ethical companies that not just care about animals, but humans as well. I've never cared and now feeling convicted.
2. Choosing self-control. I know a little bit what it feels like to go out for a celebration at a restaurant and not be able to barely order anything and then watch my family eat their heart out on a meat fest. And then also recognize that they feel guilty unnecessarily because I had made this my choice. That was a good experience to stick with self-control. Of course I brought the vegan chocolate cake to top off the celebration.
3. To give respect. I know what it is to have my food spiked with meat. My mother made me bean soup. How lovely. After I ate some, I saw an opened box of chicken stock. I said, "Is that in the soup?" "Yes." "That's meat, mom!" "No it isn't." "Yup, sure is." "That's dumb," she says. Hm, so that's what it's like for my friends who are vegetarians. I find I'm convicted. I've thought like my mom too.
4. Doing your best and still coming up short. I know what it's like to have good intentions. I've read labels to check for ingredients. I'm good with this dark chocolate! Then my brother'in'law says, "Why are you eating milk chocolate?' " I'm not. It's dark." "Nope." The bag was mixed. Whoops. I wonder how hard it was for Daniel and his three friends to abstain from certain foods? Of course, they didn't have isles and isles of boxed food and labels to read like we do here in America.
5. It makes me sleepy. I know that I was tired for the entire month. I also know how to be a bad vegan. That's easy. There was this great cupcake station that had the most marvelous cupcakes across from Starbucks. Perfect! Lunch every day? Yes, please!
6. Making it better when I fail. I stopped being a bad vegan after 2 weeks and tried to show more discipline and self-control. Because the whole point was to learn to say no to all my selfish desires to learn self-control. I've never been good at this, but I'm practicing. Convicted? Yes, constantly.
8. I will cave. I know what it is to cave and an have no self-control. Funny thing is that I did it for a Pillsbury biscuit. There was no juicy steak or delicious cheese. I fell for the dough boy. You are telling me that you can bake Pillsbury biscuits on a stick in an open fire? Can we do this for real! Whoops! Fail. Not feeling very convicted.
9. Learning new things about myself. I learned that I love almond coconut milk, and perhaps more than regular milk. I'd never know it if I didn't broaden my perspective. You can learn something new about yourself every day if you giver yourself a chance to experience new things no matter how daunting the experience may seem or uncomfortable you may feel.
10. I desire diversity. So here I sit on my plane to Georgia for my training camp, completely nervous. This is normal. I live nervous. But I'm wanting to broaden my experience and how to better minister to a diverse world and especially in my home town. We are a diverse people and I think it's important that I learn how to share compassion and experiences with others.
After all, that is what Christ was all about. Spending time with the lepers, the adulterers, the pious, the wealthy, the proud, the meek, the children, the women, the poor, the rejected, the drunk, the liars and the penitent.
All to give them hope and forgiveness.
