Keep it Between the Mayonnaise and the Mustard

One time after returning from a fly fishing trip out West, I took an Uber ride from the airport to my home. The Uber driver pulled up in a big, jacked-up Ford F-150 pickup truck. I almost needed a ladder to get in. During the ride I asked her if she had another regular job. She told me she was an Army Sargent and was just picking up a little extra cash while on leave.

When I inquired about her role in the army, she told me she trains infantry recruits on how to operate and drive big equipment. This intrigued me as I pictured this sparky little black gal in uniform next to some really big equipment giving orders and direction to larger G. I. Joe types. I know that’s a lot of stereotyping, but I’m just being honest.

As she described some of the aspects of the instruction, I was impressed with her ability to simplify the process and put it in memorable, non-intimidating directions. She said, “I tell em the main thing is to keep the vehicle between the mayonnaise and the mustard.”

I love military jargon. If you haven’t figured it out yet—mayonnaise refers to the white edge line on a road and mustard refers to the yellow centre lines. If you keep your vehicle between these lines, you will be fine. If you go over either of these lines, then you could be in a world of hurt.

That past experience came to mind this morning during my quiet time when I read these words from John Eldredge’s book, Journey of Desire: Henri Nouwen once asked Mother Teresa for spiritual direction. Spend one hour each day in adoration of your Lord, she said, and never do anything you know is wrong. Follow this, and you’ll be fine.

Eldredge went on to write…This is such simple yet profound advice. Worship is the act of the abandoned heart adoring its God. It is the union that we crave. Few of us experience anything like this on a regular basis, let alone for an hour each day. But it is what we need—desperately. Simply showing up on Sunday is not even close to worship. Neither does singing songs with religious content pass for worship. What counts is the posture of the soul involved, the open heart pouring forth its love toward God and communing with him. It is a question of desire.

Eldredge said…Worship occurs when we say to God, from the bottom of our hearts, “You are the One whom I desire.” As Thomas à Kempis prayed, “There is nothing created that can fully satisfy my desires. Make me one with You in a sure bond of heavenly love, for You alone are sufficient to Your lover, and without You all things are vain and of no substance.”

In the most often quoted phrase from Augustine, he says, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” He is referring to desire. Our only hope for rest from the incessant craving of our desire is in God, and us united to him.

Seems to me, on the road called life, Mother Teresa offered some simple, but profoundly useful direction. “Spend one hour each day in adoration of your Lord, she said, and never do anything you know is wrong. Follow this, and you’ll be fine.”

I was wondering, am I following this advise? How about you? Maybe we need to also keep it between the mayonnaise and the mustard on our spiritual road.

• This topic was modified 10 months ago by JOHN MUCKERMAN.