I had an addiction when I was at university. I didn’t have it before I went to UBC. In high school I was clean.
I grew up in a solid, middle class family in North Vancouver. My family was not Jesus following, but we were good people.
When I arrived at UBC as a starry-eyed 18 year old I was introduced to a whole new world. Wow, I had never really seen things like this before. I went from a sheltered, homogeneous high school of 1500 where I knew most people and was known by most, to a diverse community of 40,000 students and faculty – a small city.
An appetite was awoken in me that I had not been aware of before. I was enticed by something that captivated all my senses.
I was first drawn in by the aroma – I had never smelled anything like that before. I remember strolling through our student union building during a break in classes. I had time on my hands and was exploring all this new University life could offer me.
I smelled it, and then I saw it…
Cookies By George.
What I would soon learn was that this was home to most incredible chocolate chunk cookie on the face of the planet. I couldn’t resist, I dove in and bought a bunch. What a phenomenal flavour! What an ecstatic, gastronomic experience!
I was immediately hooked! I had to make this a regular part of my routine. And that I did.
My addiction followed me through university and into marriage. When we moved to Winnipeg I soon discovered a Cookies By George in a downtown mall and made many an excuse to cruise by to buy a taste of culinary heaven on earth.
And now? The only Cookies By George I can find is in the Edmonton Airport. So whenever I fly into Edmonton I make a point to buy 2 Classic Chocolate Chunk cookies. Only 2, 3 is too much I have discovered. I am controlling my appetite for the cookie that changed the world and my life.
You may be asking yourself what these amazing cookies taste like. Well, it’s difficult to explain, but they’re soft and chewy, not too chewy though. They’re best right out of the oven when they’re delightfully warm and almost melt in your hands. The chocolate in the cookie is in soft chunks of amazing Belgian dark sweetness, rich and creamy.
The cookies are beyond description and must be tasted to be believed.
And that’s just my point: it’s impossible for you to truly understand what the taste of a Cookies By George Classic Chocolate Chunk cookie is like through my description alone. My words can never do it justice. The world’s greatest writers could not put pen to paper and enable you to experience the taste of a cookie.
You must taste it in order to see for yourself what this cookie is all about.
The things of God are no different.
David encourages us in Psalm 34:8 to,
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
There are no words to describe the goodness of God in a way that’s even close to actually experiencing the goodness of God. David is inviting us to choose to taste and see that God is good.
Don’t just listen to the sermons, watch the videos, read the books and hear the stories of others. Dive in. Take God at His Word. Walk with Him in wholehearted obedience. Take His hand and follow Him where He is leading. Take refuge in Him. Go to Him for your life, love, hope, faith, freedom, strength, healing, joy – everything you need.
The key to experiencing the goodness of God, is to trust God – trust in His great goodness and His good greatness. Believe that He is who He says He is, and follow Him. Belief is a verb – it requires action. Our obedience to God opens up our ability to taste and see God.
What action is the Lord inviting you to take so you can taste and see that He is good? Dive in and experience Him.
Psalm 34:9-14
“Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
John 14:23
“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’”
Mark 8:34
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”
Proverbs 3:5, 6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”