The Big Apple

Today was such an interesting day. I reflected on so many things about life that intrigued me. I thought about struggles and happiness and how these are connected. It made me think about what we eat and why we eat it.

For example, apples are such interesting pieces of fruit. They are so tough on the outside, and so sweet and crunchy on the inside. I love buying one at the grocery store. There is usually a huge pile stacked in neat rows, and I spend the time to pick just the right ones. For me the process is intense. I don’t want to pick the ones with a bruise or ones that are the wrong size. I want to have just the right size snack without any blemishes.

I also remember in elementary school when I discovered that slicing one in a different way showed a different center. One way was a star and the other just seeds lined up next to the other.

How is life reflected in the apple? Aren’t we a little tough on the outside, but sweet and crunchy, or complex and interesting, on the inside? I see people that appear a certain way on the outside, but once you get past that initial layer you find a sweet surprise. They are so kind and gentle, but have built a wall that keeps all the interesting textures and flavors on the inside. It just takes someone to have the courage to take the first bite or make the first connection to become friends with someone.

Isn’t that the way marriage evolves? We are in a situation and we meet a person that interests us enough to date the person. We have our skin on that protects us so that person can’t hurt us or even get to know us unless the courage emerges to break through that skin. The person has enough courage to go first to share a personal story that allows you to share one of your own so that you can truly get to know each other’s sweetness and texture.

Aren’t we more interesting when looked at, or sliced, a different way? We all have so many different things that we have or will accomplish in this life. The best way for these gifts to emerge is to accept and understand that we have a skin built around us to protect ourselves, but that we must let that skin be pierced to show the world our sweetness and our texture.

Life’s struggles are like an apple, if we just pierce the skin.

I’ll talk to you again soon,

Eileen