Soul Feeding
Guest Writer: Karen DuBert
Sometimes on life’s pilgrimage
I don’t know what my soul craves,
but I feel the craving.
It’s obvious when my body craves--
Whether its comfort food
or something healthy—
and I am well aware when I need
a long cool drink of
refreshing, thirst-quenching water.
So as I reflect on food for my soul,
I need to ask myself what I’m craving:
my Living Water—
my Cup of Salvation—
my Bread of Life.
The metaphors are so intrinsic to my life
they don’t even feel metaphorical.
they feel strangely exotic
and pretty comfortable.
My soul yearns in anticipation—
the dishes, the beverages, the fellowship:
Foods simple, spicy, salty, and sweet.
All the nourishment my soul craves.
But what does it truly crave?
And does it crave what is good?
I need to discern when I gorge on
junk food of the soul.
Designed to be nourished
by Truth, Beauty, and Goodness,
it is too easy to be sated by
scrolling, bingeing, pursuing trivia,
numbing the deep longings
and quieting the uneasiness and questions.
I know myself well enough to know
that when I am hungry—
I might settle for something less, some distraction
something tasty but without nourishment.
Hyper-palatable: tastes so good I cannot stop,
with neither health or nutrition—
to help me be my best self.
I, at times, have settled for less.
No doubt I will do it again.
But I still seek the wisdom
to nurture the health of my soul
(unburdened by shame or false guilt)
but with gentleness and grace.
Karen DuBert
Joanna joannaseibert.com