sourdough turtles...

when we were in san francisco earlier this summer, i walked by the boudin bakery. this is what i saw. not only sourdough shaped like turtles. they also had others.
the classic crab sourdough. and there were also teddy bear shaped ones and alligator ones. now... i'm sure you are wondering where i'm going with this. and honestly so am i! i just find it amazing, that someone could make a crab, turtle, bear, or alligator, out of bread dough. and for it to turn out that good!
but you know why that embarasses me? because i use the word amazing to describe jesus. and yet i turn and use it to describe shaped-bread. i think that we all too often shape jesus into someone that our mind's can comprehend and understand. we make him into someone that we can fully know. someone that can meet our needs, but still give us space to live our own lives. we put god in a box. how often do we forget about the awe of god. the mystery of god. the beauty of god. how often do we use the word "incredible" to describe a sunset, or a painting, or a new song, or a flower, or a rock concert, or a sports game, and then try to use that some word to describe god. god created those things... but they are not nearly god. god is beyond words. sure we will try to describe him in our english language (And i do that often... i will describe him as powerful, loving, beautiful, holy, perfect, amazing...) but we just have to make sure that we are still understanding that god is beyond that.
you know something else about these sourdough animals...they are expensive. and yet, people are buying them like crazy. and i think i have an idea why. not only are they a great conversation starter at a party. but because we are all desperate for something "incredible". think about it. that's how we were made, but our lives reflect it. you wouldn't turn on the tv at night and flip through the channels, hoping to find something that would completely bore you. you are looking for something that will entertain you, make you laugh, maybe make you think, or maybe occupy your mind so that you don't have to think... maybe we need to stop looking for satisfaction in earthly things, and look to god. because no matter how cute that sourdough turtle is, it will either be eaten or it will rot. it will not last forever. only god lasts beyond all things.

bread is bread.

but god is god.