Confessions of an Addict
Upon reflection of yesterday's events, my awareness of overlooked gifts has been rekindled.
Recently, my friend Shungo John and I embarked on the never ending quest of health and beauty by adopting a de-tox diet in our lives for a fortnight (that is two weeks). Needless to say, this particular prescription allows us very little to eat. We can have no sugar or sugar substitutes, salt, dairy products, wheat or bread products, salad dressings, oils, fats of any kind, beef or pork.
"What's left?" You might ask. Well, aside from chicken and fish (which we don't care much for meat and I cannot tolerate fish), veggies, a few grains in sparse proportions, decaff tea, H2O and and occaisional cardboard box for fiber; nothing.
Subsequently, Shungo and I have been honing our self discipline skills and trying to encourage one another as each day passes. We have done very well thus far, remaining true blue to the plan. Yesterday, however, a former student of mine invited me to lunch. Now foraging for something dietarily legal at the student union, which is geared toward college student quisine, is an adventure in itself. So to avoid spending all my alloted lundh time counting carbs, and edible proteins I chose a small chilli and large plain ice tea from Wendy's.
Such sin!
Repentence, confession, and penance seemed my only recourse. And who should I pay such homage to? Shungo of course, since she is the faithful half of this team. Now, I wondered how I was going to break my adulterous actions to her without swaying her opinion of my committment. Shelving this dilemma for the moment, I decided I would come forth with it when I talked with her. She called me. In the middle of our conversation about other events she broke in with,
"I have a confession to make." Smiling to myself, which she of course could not see, I solemly said, "What is it?"
She began her tale of how she attended her granddaughter's birthday at the child's school and that all was going well when she spotted the giant frosted chocolate chip cookie beckoning her attention. She then broke down and told me how she snuck two small tidbits she stealthily stole and consumed unnoticed, that is unnoticed by everyone but her conscience.
Shameful!
She then informed me, as all the truth began spilling forth, of how she went on a search and destroy mission after the party, for any left over cookie crumbs. Alas none were found as the children had devoured every last bit of it, the gluttonous urchins!
Continuing on with her tale, I was enlightened to other such infractions to our covenental arrangement of food; which included foraging like a starving animal through her son's garbage to retrieve an erroneous discard of bacon deposited by his wife. She savored that one. Finally as we laughed heartily over her crimes, my conscience would rest no longer and I too lay my dasterly deed before her. Laughter spilled spontaneously as we cleaned our consciences. I am guessing all that exercise from laughing alone burned the sinful calories we consumed.
However, the entire event reminded me of what a treasure Shungo has been to me. Some might say she was sent from heaven, I believe her point of origin is more the heart of God Himself.
Ever and Always
Beth
Recently, my friend Shungo John and I embarked on the never ending quest of health and beauty by adopting a de-tox diet in our lives for a fortnight (that is two weeks). Needless to say, this particular prescription allows us very little to eat. We can have no sugar or sugar substitutes, salt, dairy products, wheat or bread products, salad dressings, oils, fats of any kind, beef or pork.
"What's left?" You might ask. Well, aside from chicken and fish (which we don't care much for meat and I cannot tolerate fish), veggies, a few grains in sparse proportions, decaff tea, H2O and and occaisional cardboard box for fiber; nothing.
Subsequently, Shungo and I have been honing our self discipline skills and trying to encourage one another as each day passes. We have done very well thus far, remaining true blue to the plan. Yesterday, however, a former student of mine invited me to lunch. Now foraging for something dietarily legal at the student union, which is geared toward college student quisine, is an adventure in itself. So to avoid spending all my alloted lundh time counting carbs, and edible proteins I chose a small chilli and large plain ice tea from Wendy's.
Such sin!
Repentence, confession, and penance seemed my only recourse. And who should I pay such homage to? Shungo of course, since she is the faithful half of this team. Now, I wondered how I was going to break my adulterous actions to her without swaying her opinion of my committment. Shelving this dilemma for the moment, I decided I would come forth with it when I talked with her. She called me. In the middle of our conversation about other events she broke in with,
"I have a confession to make." Smiling to myself, which she of course could not see, I solemly said, "What is it?"
She began her tale of how she attended her granddaughter's birthday at the child's school and that all was going well when she spotted the giant frosted chocolate chip cookie beckoning her attention. She then broke down and told me how she snuck two small tidbits she stealthily stole and consumed unnoticed, that is unnoticed by everyone but her conscience.
Shameful!
She then informed me, as all the truth began spilling forth, of how she went on a search and destroy mission after the party, for any left over cookie crumbs. Alas none were found as the children had devoured every last bit of it, the gluttonous urchins!
Continuing on with her tale, I was enlightened to other such infractions to our covenental arrangement of food; which included foraging like a starving animal through her son's garbage to retrieve an erroneous discard of bacon deposited by his wife. She savored that one. Finally as we laughed heartily over her crimes, my conscience would rest no longer and I too lay my dasterly deed before her. Laughter spilled spontaneously as we cleaned our consciences. I am guessing all that exercise from laughing alone burned the sinful calories we consumed.
However, the entire event reminded me of what a treasure Shungo has been to me. Some might say she was sent from heaven, I believe her point of origin is more the heart of God Himself.
Ever and Always
Beth
posted by beth at 11:59 AM
1 Comments:
What a quirky name Shungo is, although I have no room to talk :P.
Don't fret over the diet too much though. I'm reminded of the jokes about the Buddhist monk and the NY hotdog vendor.
#1,
hotdog vendor: what do you want?
Buddhist monk: make me one with everything.
#2
Buddhist Monk hands him a $20
monk: where's my change?
hotdog vendor: change comes from within!
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