"Too Much of a Good Thing" by David "J.B." Miller

This is a guest post from David "J.B." Miller of Life Letter Cafe:

"There is nothing, indeed, which God will not do for a man who dares to step out upon what seems to be the mist; though as he puts his foot down he finds a rock beneath him." - F. B. Meyer

Hi Friends:

We all know that in this wonderful world God has made, life offers nearly an infinite list of simple pleasures . . . pleasures . . . when experienced in modest doses . . . add joyful spice to life.

Some of my simple pleasures . . . watching a desert sunset by the side of a quiet, serene outdoor swimming pool . . . or having the "child-size" ice cream cone at the Bandon, Oregon cheese factory (you have to try the free cheese and curd samples first) . . . or watching people and planes in airports . . . or tacos . . . or hot-out-of-the-oven San Francisco sourdough bread with fresh steamed crab . . . or watching DVD's on our home theater with surround sound . . . or a great live concert including artists like Casting Crowns, Boston or Shania Twain . . . or a cool roller coaster . . . by now you know I treasure writing . . . and I could go on and on.

Toxic Obsessions

However, all of these "simple pleasures" can be become overwhelming when we obsess and "gorge" on them. Too much time in the sun . . . experience and research tell us that our skin will become damaged and look like a dried prune. Ice cream and cheese by the pound . . . schedule your heart attack for next week. Airports for more than 2 hours at one time can cause anyone to panic.

Tacos . . . okay, you can never have too many tacos . . . can you?

Sourdough . . . who wants to look like the Pillsbury dough boy? Movie marathons . . . my backside and knees can't sit that long . . . without a loud protest. Too much country-western music at one sitting has proven to create irreversible medical consequences. Have you seen the guy who broke the world record for longest continuous ride on a roller coaster? Does he have a life . . . at least one that includes a job? Put pen to paper without necessary "breaks" . . . and writer's cramp happens to both hand . . . and brain!

Never a more clear example of "too much of a good thing" caught me quite unprepared recently when I had the "privilege" of attending a Pug party . . . admission ticket? . . . my own sweet little 4 month old pug puppy . . . "Ellie". 61 pugs in one yard . . . oh, the smells . . . oh the slime . . . oh the cacophony produced by snorting, nasal challenged pit bull wannabes.

There were sweet, tender, touching moments . . . like watching adult (human) guests become targets for male pugs with full bladders. And do you know what it is like to be in a room when 5 pugs pass gas in short succession? Did you know there is such a thing as a pug toothbrush? . . . and I won it in a mystery guessing contest! What is cute and adorable . . . by itself or in pairs . . . can become a major health hazard when bundled in groups by the dozen.

Can't Get No Satisfaction

We realize that life's greatest pleasures really only satisfy for a short time . . . but yes . . . we are still tempted to gorge ourselves on more of the same activity. We are still prone to frantically fill our time with additional indulging activity that serves to do little more than leaving us feeling . . . like we just ate 3 entire bags of potato chips while watching reruns of "I Dream of Genie" . . . you know . . . bloated and "checked-out".
Fortunately, we are made by a God who knows that there are certain things we need in unlimited doses . . . His love, faithfulness and goodness. His very word reminds us to train our minds towards all of the "good things" that are ours in Christ,

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases . . . who satisfies your desires with good things." (Psalm 103)

It is during times of failure, loss, short-sightedness and uncertainty about the future . . . and it is even on days that I find myself in the shower (de-sliming from the latest massive pug-fest) . . . when I am reminded that . . . in Him and only Him . . . we can never receive . . .

. . . too much of a good thing!

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."  (Psalm 100)

[Originally posted at Life Letter Cafe]