The Spice of Life

When we talk about the main course of a meal, one of its simplest aspects is often forgotten: the spice. Think about that. A small addition — a pinch of something fragrant or fiery — can be one of the most powerful elements in a dish. It doesn’t just add something distinctive or even intrusive. A good spice, the right spice, enhances the depth of taste already present. It makes the meal memorable, enjoyable, and rich.

In Advent, we are both remembering and anticipating. We stand in the crux of God’s intervention — what He has done in our lives, and what He will do to renew all life. We participate in what Jesus did by assisting in the creation of what Jesus will do. This requires elements that bring out the depth of truth — the tangible experience of God’s will “on earth as it is in heaven.”

The first is obedience. Like salt, obedience heightens the flavors already present — sweetness, sourness, and umami — by stimulating our taste buds and increasing salivation, which helps dissolve flavor compounds so we perceive them more intensely. Jesus gave us instructions on how to live. When we follow those instructions, we enhance the joy of living in others. When we treat others as we would want to be treated, their experience of life is enriched. It’s made better. It makes people want “more of that.”

We know the stories. Life changes because someone did this for someone else. It was simple, almost natural, but it changed the day. They paid for the groceries someone was starting to remove from the checkout. They returned a wallet with a signed paycheck. They slowed down and allowed a person to merge into traffic. They acted in obedience. This tenderizes hearts. It helps the worth of another remain crisp. It preserves a sense of meaning. It’s like salt.

The second is courage. Like pepper, courage creates a warm, tingling lift in someone’s soul — in both our souls and in the souls around us. When we step forward, regardless of how others perceive us, we cut through the fat and oversweetness of life. Courage is not about padding our own value or clinging to others so they’ll like us. It sharpens reality. It reveals what’s true and makes the dimensions of love more pronounced. Did you ever think of pepper that way? It sharpens the experience.

The spices of obedience and courage heighten and enhance the experience of life. They lead the world into discovering the truth of God’s love. And so, we add them to our feast of Advent.