SALT

We moved here from living in Colorado for 35 years, so a lot is new to us in the South. We thought everything grew here! We have all kinds of bugs, snakes, and pests that you can imagine. Yardwork and gardening are a challenge! By trial and error, after three years and scorching summers, we’re having our best year ever.

Oklahoma is in the “Bible Belt,” so named because evangelical Christianity and social conservatism are prevalent here and in the surrounding states. There are hundreds of churches in the metro areas. One of the first things we were asked as newcomers to the state was whether we had found a church. We had, and that was all that mattered.

My Aunt June warned me, and I quickly learned that “Bless your heart” has different meanings in the South. Not all are kind, but sometimes they are, and that makes you stop and think—should I be insulted or thankful? I mean, who would’ve thought that a blessing could be used to sweetly insult someone?

Some of the best advice I’ve been given was delivered with a bit of salt. In the Bible, salt has a plethora of meanings in different contexts. It can signify flavor, preservation, covenant, death, and bitterness. I’ve always associated it with the hard truth, but it can also flavor a good truth. I think biblical salt indicates wise communication rather than the flavor of the message.

I’ve learned to love the salt along with the sweet. Too much of either isn’t healthy, but they complement each other. Have you ever sprinkled sea salt on top of cookies or canteloupe? Delicious! Our differences, in moderation, make life interesting and enjoyable, and it’s why we love it here in Oklahoma.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

Reflection: Think of a time when you applied salt to a message to make it taste better. Do you think the process was part of speaking the truth in love? How was it received? How could you improve your salt-shaking ability?

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