Washing up before dinner

Dear One,

Before we go to dinner, I want to come clean. You're not the only one. I recently told someone else I love just this same thing. I'm not sure what it is about me. It must be a secret sign above my head. Or a part of some internet black site profile. But it seems like you are a group of several people in my life who are convinced that I need sushi in my life.

The thing is, I've tried sushi in the past. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was the people I was with. Maybe it was the time. But for one reason or another, I didn't connect with sushi. And now here we are. You're in my life. And I love you. And you love me. And you absolutely love sushi. You're crazy about it. It's "changed your life" you say. It's your favorite food by far. And every time you suggest we try sushi together, I'm a polite, but rather firm, "No."

I know. I've heard you. And I still hear you. If I could just experience sushi with you, you say. "Let me walk you through it..." "I bet if you gave me the chance-- really gave me the chance, I could change your mind," you say. "I know that you've had some bad experiences with sushi in the past, but that doesn't mean that sushi isn't amazing. That just means you've had some bad experiences, yes?" Yes. All those things are true. And you are probably right. Over time, given the opportunity you might just convince me to love sushi.

Before we go to dinner, though, I need to come clean. These days, I want to wash up before any of my dinner guests, so I want to be honest with you, just like I was honest with my other friend. Before we go for dinner, think this thing through. Imagine just three things are different. Go back. Re-imagine what you just read. Imagine you are me and I am you. I, of course, just go a lot better looking. Then imagine instead of a discussion about sushi, we're having a discussion about Jesus. Because I'm going to be willing to try sushi, but I'm going to expect that the logic will hold, and if I'm willing to try sushi....

What will I do if one of you who loves sushi finally takes me up on my offer? Oh, there are a lot of things that you like that I don't that I'm willing to try. I'm more than willing to walk with you awhile and genuinely see the world through your eyes. And maybe, just maybe, you might see a bit of it through mine. And if not, I love you just as much.

thus spake,

me