the whole peanut?

The last time I went on a trip to WV, I traveled with Jon and Mike from the church. It was actually a quick trip.....one of those "drive up there, meet with Ray, then head back" trips. It was still a good trip. There were a lot of memories about that trip; and the strange thing about memories is that they resurface at odd times. One such memory about this trip came back to me while I was eating lunch with Karen today.

We were sitting at the table at Lone Star, waiting to place our order; and you know how it goes... you have this bucket full of peanuts and an empty bucket for the shells. When I go to restaurants with peanuts on the table.....I eat peanuts. I just sit there and crack the shell open and eat the peanuts. I don't really think too much about it. Until today. I remembered stopping in Morgantown with Jon and Mike and eating at a restaurant and there was a bucket of peanuts on the table. I'm doing my usual ..crack the shell open...eat the peanuts, and Jon is sitting there popping the whole peanut....shell and all...in his mouth and just munching away. I'm thinking; "Man, that's disgusting." But Jon assures me that that is the best way to eat the peanut. He tried to convince me to give it a shot. I can't get past the memories of digging up peanuts in my Papaw's garden, so I pass. That is....until today.

I shared Jon's strange eating habit with Karen, and to my surprise.....she tried it. I couldn't believe it. I kept waiting for her to spit it out and drink all of her water and my tea, but she didn't. Hey Jon!! She did it!! I'm not saying that she liked it, but that she did it. Now I'm stuck. I have to try it. So, I look for the smallest peanut in the bucket....a single, not a double; and I pop it in my mouth and chew the whole thing. To be honest with you.....that was really good....and salty?!? And I wasn't making a big mess on the table by cracking open the shells. This was a nice, different, tasty surprise.

I learned today, that it didn't matter so much how I ate the peanut....it was still a good peanut. The fact that I even tried it was a surprise, but I guess that I can still learn something new. And you know, I keep learning something new from these "younger" pastors at HRCC.....they challenge me in my thinking, and they encourage me in my walk. They give me confidence; they pray for me, each other, and for you....the church. They have taught me so much, and I am forever grateful. Thanks guys.