Corn Nuts

When I was eleven or twelve I went on my first Boy Scout camping trip. The Patrol Leader for my patrol was a young man named Marty Dyer. Marty was about three or four years older than me and I looked up to him - not only because he was older, but because Marty, in my eyes, embodied the ideals of scouting. Part of what makes that first trip so memorable was we ended up being tent mates for that outing.

We were in our sleeping bags after 'lights out' and so, of course, we had our flashlights working overtime, talking and laughing and having fun like boys do in that situation. At one point he reached into his pack and pulled out some snacks. "Have you ever tried these?" he asked. I confessed that I never had and he ripped the bag open and we began to partake. Food of the gods! I thought. They were "Corn Nuts" and I was hooked. For the past forty plus years, I have indulged in "Corn Nuts." I am unabashedly and unashamedly a fan of this wonderful food. Yes, I realize it's probably not good for me - deep fried and loaded with salt, they are nevertheless my idea of a what a snack food should be. And I will continue my true confessions by saying that I still indulge my "Corn Nuts" habit. Especially on a long drive, at that point when you just begin to fight drowsiness - white line fever sets in, and I combat it with - you guessed it - "Corn Nuts." The crunchy texture of this deep fried delicacy is just right for popping sleepy eyes open.

Now the makers of "Corn Nuts" have attempted to expand their market by offering different flavors. They now offer, I believe, ranch flavored and salsa flavored. There may be others though I don't know, because I am a "Corn Nuts" purist - I am hooked on the original. This wonderful snack food that was introduced to me more than forty years ago by a someone I admired and felt a kinship with - he opened my eyes to something that has stayed with me ever since.

Faith should be something like this I think. Faith, fellowship, church should by when someone you love, admire, care for, or have a kinship with introduces you to the wonderful love and grace of God that comes to us in Jesus. That first taste, and that exquisite experience of an encounter with God in Christ should open our senses to a whole new world of flavor and texture and colors. Faith is not about doctrine or dogma or even theology - these things are a reflection of our faith but they are not what's in the bag. They are like different flavors of the same snack - all of them are good and have value. But ultimately what's in the bag is Jesus, in whatever flavor we envision him. Our faith, our lives, and our churches should be the bag that once opened and shared invites others into a wonderful new experience that will not only change their lives, but stay with them for years.

Do we have a "Corn Nuts" faith? Do we have a passion for it, so that, we offer it to others with enthusiasm, inviting them to share? I am not refering to denominations, doctrines, or theology, but simply our faith - "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and my savior and Lord." Are we excited about the fellowship or community we are part of, so that, we cannot wait for others to experience it? Will we reach into the backpack of our lives and pull out our bag of faith, ripping it open for others?

The interesting thing about something as simple as "Corn Nuts" was that it in all the simplicity of the moment, it has stayed with me for my entire life. I don't know where Marty is today, but the "Corn Nuts" habit is still mine. Who introduced you to Jesus? More importantly who do you know that needs what our belief in Christ offers? Maybe it's time to ask them, "Have you ever tried this?" One warning though, it will almost certainly be habit forming.