Eggs without yolks, how can that be? That was a question raised by myself and others while in Uganda, Africa on our mission trip this March. On this trip we were immersed in a completely different culture. Food, especially, was a real experience. We were blessed to stay in a wonderful, clean little hotel in Mityana where the staff took such good care of us. They cooked breakfast and dinner for us every day. The food was different, but sustaining and relatively good if you were willing to stretch and try new things!
At breakfast and by request, we could order scrambled eggs. We were thrilled to have them, but their appearance was unlike any egg I’ve ever seen. They were pale and appeared to have no yolk. For several days we speculated about what they would be doing with the yolks from our eggs. We just assumed that given the scarcity of food and their resourcefulness that they were using the yolks for another purpose and using only the whites for our breakfast eggs.
One morning I finally just asked, “Where is the egg yolk?”. The befuddled young woman taking care of us looked at me with a very puzzled look. After a few seconds of probably wondering what the crazy american was talking about, she replied, “It’s in there”. What? How could that be? There was absolutely nothing in the appearance of my eggs that would indicate that the yolk was included. There was none of that wonderful golden yolk color, only pale, monochromatic egg thru and thru. As it turns out, that’s just the way eggs look in Uganda, pale, anemic, colorless. Whether it’s the result of the poor chicken’s diet, breed, or some other reason, the result is blandness.
Then it struck me! As a Christian it’s so easy to become like those egg yolks, anemic, colorless, non-effecting. We live in the world, but we are called to be different. Jesus calls us to be salt and light, to make God famous, to bring hope to the hopeless. Do we? Or do we blend right in with the world. When “scrambled” in with those around us, can anyone tell the difference in us?
In stark contrast to the Ugandan eggs, we are blessed here on the Ranch to have our own organic, free range eggs laid by our contented and well cared for hens. Our eggs are big and brown on the outside, which is not so different from any other egg you might pick up in the grocery. But when one of them is cracked open they are completely different. The yolks are large and the loveliest deep goldenrod color. They are rich and full of flavor when cooked. When you mix these yolks with the white, the result is a beautiful bright yellow concoction. There is nothing pale about our eggs. It’s very evident that there is a yolk involved!
Isn’t that what God expects of us? We don’t look so different on the outside, but the inside should be oh so different. We should be vibrant and rich in God’s love and light, affecting the world around us. When we are mixed in with the world we should be coloring everything and everyone around us. We should be radiating love, kindness forgiveness, and mercy. Are we? Or are we just blending in with the world with no effect?
How’s your yolk looking?
Matthew 5:13-16
Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? you’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors of the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bears, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand---shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
(from The Message)
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