Condiments

           There is nothing better than a Chicago style hot dog.  No....I didn't mention healthy eating.  There is no such thing as combining a Chicago style hot dog and healthy eating just to set the record straight.  What is it that makes a Chicago style hot dog so great?  First it is the dog itself--it has to be a Vienna all beef hot dog.  Anything else is simply a knock off.  And, the bun is very important.  It can't possibly be your garden variety grocery store hot dog bun.  Finally, the most, absolutely crucial part of a Chicago style hot dog (in fact, the necessary part) is all of the condiments packing the bun and falling all over the place, including, but not limited to, the green pickle relish.

           There is also nothing better than living a life as free of stress and worry as possible.   Each of those tend to really get in the way of our being happy and content don't they?  They also tend to age us in ways we would prefer not to be aged.  What happens to make us happiest and most content is the condiments of life--if we only choose to use them.  They are as crucial to our well being as the condiments themselves are to the Chicago hot dog.  What are the condiments of life?

           Faith and patience are the main condiments that will always have a positive effect on our well being, our happiness, and yes, even our spiritual growth.  In fact, they are to our spiritual health what the pickle, relish, mustard and the rest of the condiments are to the hot dog---not just window dressing, but very vital parts of a really great hot dog.  If we don't have faith and patience in combination, it's like if we were to take a cold hot dog out of the fridge, slap it on a stale bun, and then eating it.  Pretty miserable!

             Just as it's the condiments that make the dog, it's our life condiments that make us the Christ followers we strive to be.