Saturday, March 29, 2014

The celebration series - ..part 5 and back to verse 5

Life slowed me down…back to verse 5

You anoint my head with oil – I’ve been a little hung up on this part of the verse, and was waiting for the words to grab me. My first thoughts were hot oil on my hair. I will actually use this now and again, if my hair is really brittle.  Its ‘supposed’ to help…yes, I buy the marketing.  That didn't feel right, despite the fact that I’m sure the Big Guy would love for me to take care of my brittle hair and split ends. 

After reading a little more, I realized there were references to various types of oils, as well as recipes. A few examples: oil of joy for mourning, oil of gladness; and anointing oil. I really stopped investigating after reading about the anointing oil, as it was intended to mark those who were to be set apart, such as royalty. This maaaay have been before the whole ‘knighting’ protocol came around, back when you would tap the shoulders of the chosen one.  ..and I’m pretty sure this supersedes the ‘swearing someone in’ bit, where the newly chosen places their hand on a Bible… just sayin. 

A host often marked their guest with oil, and swore to protect them.  …in the presence of an enemy.

My cup runs over – I remember always worrying about this line.  If you make a mess, you gotta clean it up! However, a dinner guest, receiving this much attention, is not pouring their own glass.  The host is making the mess, the host is pouring from a bottomless container, the host wants you to stay and keep on keeping on into the wee hours. You are safe, you are well fed, your belly is full. As your cup runneth over, take a minute to appreciate why it runs over.  Science. Consumption. Poor eye sight. Appreciation. Excitement. Parental love.  …Mom and Dad will never let you stand inside their house hungry or thirsty.

Now, stop thinking about sweet tea or wine or water running over the sides of that lovely cup. YOU are the vessel.  You are the vessel that is being filled with goodness.  You feel safe, you are not hungry, you've found an oasis in a really dark valley, and you feel relief. You feel gratitude towards something bigger than yourself.  You are the cup and the goodness runneth over.