Worry & Avocados-July 2022

Do not worry about the avocados. 

I realize this exact combination of words is nowhere in the Holy Writ. I’m not even sure it would be in Cantino Laredo’s employee handbook. 

Due to recent history, this sentence now has a place in my prayer journal. My heart and mind have been worried lately about avocados.

If this were that game show Chain Reaction, it might go something like this:

News

Report 

Card

Stock

Prices

(& availability of avocados)

A number of months back, as the looming economic woes were presenting themselves in unmistakeable ways, there was an NPR report about avocado shortages and price hikes.

Food context is important.

I’m all about a sliced avocado on my salad and I love me some guacamole with fajitas de pollo.

That particular report struck a diminished chord of worry in me that no other economic story yet had. I distinctly remember noting “what a bummer” and “I’ll still buy guac(!)”. Then the chain reaction of speculation in my unbridled mind took off from a possible avocado shortage to overall produce price hikes then to store shelves emptied like the “Great American Toilet Paper Crisis of 2020” to that Brendan Fraser movie where they lived in a bunker for like 20 years to me actually getting in my car, going to Target, to shop to stock up our pantry.

All of that because of avocados.

Lord, have mercy.

As it turns out, the worry has thus far been misplaced (as all worry truly is, right?!) Avocados have been mostly available in our local grocery stores without interruption and I noticed yesterday the price on the big Hass kind has actually come down significantly.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

As I read that verse, spoken by Jesus, in St John’s Gospel again this morning, it’s as if I heard the Spirit of God say two more words: “about avocados”.

I’ve also been recently reminded that “do not let your hearts be troubled” is a direct command from Jesus, not a suggestion, not a tidbit of helpful guidance. And it is something within our control or why would Jesus command it?

Today, prayerfully, I’m choosing: “Don’t speculate or worry (about the availability of avocados)”.

“The Importunate Cece Winans song” 1/1/22

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:14-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

E. M. Bounds was a nineteenth century preacher and writer. He’s best remembered for his books on prayer. One of the many themes he touches on in his writing is the need for Importunate Prayer. Importunate is not a 2022 kind of word. It means “persistent, to the point of annoyance.”

I wasn’t raised in a church tradition that prayed like that. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard many, if any, fellow believers pray in that tone and posture. My prayers have always been leaning to the reserved and reverent side. My prayers in the past have had a lot of “wait and see” not persistence. The writer of Hebrews knew about Importunate Prayer as he told us to “come boldly to the throne of grace…” (Hebrews 4:16)

Relatedly, there’s a stream of thinking and praying, especially in the global West, that seems to go past persistent, veering close to demanding. I’m not of the “name it & claim it” flavor of American religiosity. That’s a misrepresentation of the Word of God.

There is no pie in the sky.

There is no telling God what to do.

Jesus ain’t giving me a Mercedes Benz, (though I appreciate Janis Joplin’s brief impact on rock n’ roll. That was such a catchy tune, after all :)

And, yet, still, even more now than in years’ past, I see in the Holy Scriptures promises from the God of the Universe, promises ultimately from and to Himself, for His glory and our good. Many of those promises and prophecies have already come to pass, while many others are in continuous motion today until His return.

I was reminded recently that Christmas, when rightly understood, was Christ’s first coming pointing to His second coming. Wise men from far away lands knew enough to be on the lookout. Simple, lowly, poor shepherds were both fortunate enough and trusting enough to go and see who was in the manger.

They believed.

Wise men, shepherds, Mary & Joseph.

The Gospel writers make no reference to any of that cast of characters fully Understanding it; they just Believed it, with Mary even “storing these things up in her heart”, to ponder and possibly understand later.

God said it through Star and Angelic host.

The people believed.

That’s it.

About a month ago I encountered and was captured by Cece Winans’ new song “Believe For It”. Cece Winans’ voice is as close to angelic as it gets for me; let me listen to her sing anything, phone book included, and I’m instantly worshipping God!

With a title like “Believe For It” maybe you can see how the ol’ “name it and claim it” idea got assumed in my head. 

I was wrong. 

Fortunately, I pressed play and laid down my haughty, theological assumptions; this tune is far deeper and more on point with the truth of Scripture than I’ve lived in times past. A couple repetitive lyrical thoughts in the song  are: “there is Power in Your name” and “We trust in you, God you have the final say”.

It’s Importunate Prayer set to music by Cece Winans and her fellow songwriters Dwan Hill, Kyle Lee and Mitch Wong.

I need this song, as Importunate Prayer seems to be the order of the day. This may well turn into my anthem for 2022. And with nearly 5 million views of the live video already, this may be prove to be edifying for all of us. Here’s the video link. Enjoy.

https://youtu.be/fd24fpsF1Qw