One of the great things about traveling is trying new food! I know Mediterrean food isn’t exactly exotic in most places, and I’m not really proud of this, but all I really knew about Middle Eastern / Mediterranean food was hummus. And after spending two weeks traveling up and down the coastline and interior of Israel I’ve learned so much more about the bountiful, amazing food served daily in most homes and hotels. I now know that salad for breakfast is quite refreshing and if fried cauliflower is in the salad section of a buffet, that means it’s cold, fried cauliflower (?). I’ve learned to identify most meats (except for that one time when I thought I spooned a portabello mushroom something onto my plate, then discovered it was chicken livers…) and that I definitely need to cook more eggplant dishes. I’ve come to love and appreciate so many new tastes and textures from this part of the world, but my surprise all-time favorite has to be falafel! I’d heard about the little round balls made up of ground chickpeas but this was my first opportunity to actually taste one and they are delicious! The way they are commonly served in the middle east is to load the just-fried balls into pita bread and top them with chopped veggies, pickles, hummus, harissa hot sauce, and tahini sauce. And they’re served everywhere….as common as hamburgers at home. I watched a vendor put falafel balls in a pita, flatten it with his hands to squish them a little before lfilling it with the salad, I’ve eaten them sitting on a mat on the ground in a Bedouin tent in the middle of the desert, I’ve had them in restaurants in the old city of Jerusalem and at roadside stops along the way. A review of my falafel experience might go something like this:

1st falafel meal: Oh my gosh! This is amazing!

2nd falafel meal: I can’t believe I get this again! Love these things!

3rd falafel meal: Think I’ll try some different combos of the same three sauces. These can be a little dry…

4th falafel meal: Falafel? Again? Ok….just soak up the experience. Remember how you used to love these things?

5th falafel meal: (Pass on the falafel and just eat the salad…..)

When the Israelites were wandering around in the desert wilderness for those forty years, God knew there wasn’t sufficient food to support the massive crowd, so he provided fresh manna each morning to sustain them, and they were so thankful at first! They praised God for the manna and for taking care of them in the desert. But manna every morning….and noon….and night? For forty years? How they would have loved a crispy, fried falafel!

God provides for us in ways we seldom even see and sometimes we have the attention span of a grasshopper, hopping to the next “new” thing that brings temporary excitement and satisfaction. Church not meeting your needs? Find a new one. Worship style there not to your liking? There’s plenty others to try. The Bible seems irrelevant? Just keep the parts that we can feel good about. (Ouch on that one…)

Only God could speak to me through a falafel. I love him so for that! What a great reminder as we experience this season of lent, that we have what we need. In fact, most of us have much MORE than we need, so much more that it’s not enough to just have enough; we’re always looking for the next thing that will bring satisfaction….until it doesn’t any more.

I don’t know if this speaks to you at all, but for me it’s a reminder to return to my “first love”, the relationship with Jesus that is the only thing that truly satisfies. And when I find myself dissatisfied with things that God has provided in abundance to take a step back, say a prayer of heartfelt thanksgiving. And enjoy the falafel!

Abundant Blessings,

Shellie ♥