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Tuesday, April 5, 2011

A Rumbly in my Tumbly



"He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands." ~Luke 1.53

 "There's nothing here to eat except Pizza Rolls and diet Pepsi..." ~Westyn (age 10)

I first saw the image above a couple of years ago and from the very first time, it has never failed to speak volumes to me every time  I look at it.  I also remember searching for and reading the story behind it, as written by the photographer who took it.

He spoke of how the boy pictured was oblivious to his presence and focused only on the food, the source of another day's existence. 

The boy's hunger was the most powerful force in the world to him at that moment.

A few minutes ago, I realized that I hadn't eaten for several hours and began to fix something to eat.  While reaching up into the cabinet, a voice inside said: "Hunger is good, it makes you feel alive."

It's the first time that I have ever looked at it that way.  Throughout my life without fail, hunger has been a negative thing - something to be remedied as quickly and completely as possible.  Something which needed to be soothed and made better, like a cut finger or backache.

Hunger is good? 

Something to be Desired? Sought after? Needed? (even wanted?)

Yes - think about it.

The gnawing belly, growing stronger simply through time - the only thing which gets more powerful when not fed - overcomes the brain and yells louder and louder until something is thrown it's way.

But the gnawing belly is only doing it's job.

Without it, we'd starve.

So is there a lesson to be learned from this?
Maybe, I think so. 

I think that recognizing what I'm passionate about, crave, what defines and makes me who I am and who I am becoming is vital to satiating my real hunger.  Then to experience the taste of total immersion in those things is key to being fulfilled.

I don't know about you, but I'm starving...

....Time to eat.