Have You Eaten from the Tree?

#146

Friend,

“Have you eaten from the tree?”

Where do you satisfy your hunger? What are you “snacking” on?

Sometimes, you eat a snack because you need something before dinner, and then other times you eat a snack because you need something to distract you. The old sitcom trope of a woman eating ice cream straight from the carton is a trope for a reason. When we are in need, we look for something to satisfy us, and often it’s not the thing that heals us, but something that temporarily helps us.

I love the way that Chuck Degroat frames this question:

“Have you eaten from the tree? he asks, which is to say, “Where have you taken your hunger?” His tone is not one of rageful anger but of somber curiosity: “Talk to me about the ways you’ve been suffering alone, coping on your own. Tell me where you’ve gone to quell the ache.”

So, I invite you to be honest today with yourself (and if you need to me or another trusted friend). Where have you gone to quell the ache? There are common places- alcohol, pornography, social media doomscrolling, prescription medications. There are other common places- excessive exercise, perfectionism, and workaholism.

Where have you attempted to satisfy your hunger? One of the reasons that you are weary is that you’ve been raging this battle and attempting to satisfy your hunger alone.

Love,

Aaron

P.S. This finishes my little 3-part mini series on Chuck Degroat’s book "Healing What’s Within.”