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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: ZEST (10/01/15)
The De-Zester

Do you remember that old jingle from the early fifties? It went: What do you want when you gotta have something, and it’s gotta be good and you gotta have a lot and you gotta have it now? What do you want? It goes on to describe a tasty snack called Cracker Jacks. At sixty-three, I hum that tune and could care less about the candy. I want what I’ve been missing for so many years: energy, love for life, or zest also known as “enthusiasm · gusto · relish · appetite · eagerness · keenness.”
When I watch a toddler run non-stop like an energizer bunny, I admire their zest! I’m grateful for the years I spent zesting about. In fact, I probably had more than my share of zest. I was an entertainer in my youth—a songstress with an ever-ready smile and a healthy laugh. I shared my energy back then with people of like minds and similar spirit.
What happened? Quite simply, I knew I could successfully marry a nonbeliever…wrong! To the young person contemplating the same, don’t do it! It doesn’t work. It is a matter of non-compatible energies. A non-believer will suck the living life out of your spirit.
It isn’t that he or she might have an evil agenda, they probably don’t. They just won’t be on the same spiritual page as a practicing believer. They will have different desires, worldly goals. A Christian’s aspirations may seem silly or trite to them. Zest for life, zest for the Lord, zest for anything will wane before the believer realizes it is happening.
I was stubborn and stuck it out because what Christian wants to be divorced? But for goodness sake, when child-birth weight gain occurred or menopausal sweats cramped my style or when illness set in and the spouse showed his non-believing derriere instead of being supportive, I finally divorced with God’s blessing.
It took time, but with prayer, scripture, spiritual friends, quiet meditation, and nature, the energy began to find a way back, spirit-first. Sometimes I would burst out laughing for the silliest thing. Other times a tear would roll down my cheek during a particularly beautiful sunset. I’m able to walk again much to my dogs’ delight! I enjoy cooking for myself every now and then—a practice I gave up long ago.
I’ve opened a channel for zest by allowing myself to once again be who God made me—loving, non-judgmental, hopeful, prayerful, grateful, and thankful. I plan to stay away from spirit depleters and zest thieves. I’ve learned to love God first and love me a close second. Who knows? I may be doing cartwheels like a Cirque de Soleil performer by my next birthday! Halleluiah!
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This article has been read 674 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Donna Powers
10/08/15
Lovely and lively article! You captured the spirit of the word "zest" very well and I appreciate your sharing of your testimony. I'll come watch you at the Cirque; I am sure you will be there someday!
Lynn Smith
10/08/15
Words of wisdom. Too often people fall in love and think that one day the person might come to the Lord, but they wait and wait. Then before they know it, they themselves have lost their zest for God.

Critique: Perhaps you might want to put spaces in between your paragraphs to make them more distinguishable.

All the best. :)
C D Swanson 
10/09/15
Fantastic job!
God bless~
Loni Bowden-Horn 
10/09/15
Powerful message for every Christian to hear. It is easy to overlook many red flags about a person when you are in love but those decisions can end up with dire consequences.

I knew a women who married a man who she found out was not a Christian and she has prayed for his soul for more than 30 years. She said it was very painful at times being unyoked with a non-believer.

I am glad you have so much zest for life with Christ.

God Bless
Larry Whittington
10/13/15
Thank you for reminding each one of us that deliberate sin (marrying an unbeliever) has consequences.

Well written life story. Returning to God's way for forgiveness is the only way (prodigal son).
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
10/15/15
This is a lovely testimony. I'm sure it wasn't easy to bare your heart like that for all the world to see. I admire your courage and know God will use your words in ways you may never expect.

I'd urge you to go back and count the number of times you used the word zest and used exclamation points. I bet you'll be surprised. You don't need to use the topic word to be on topic. Some of the most on topic stories won't use the wordword, but still the stories will be oozing with zest. Try to limit your exclamation points to dialog. Instead, let your delightful word choice do the exclaiming for you.

I smiled when you mentioned the jingle. That one was before my time, but all week I've been singing, "You're not fully clean unless you're zestfully clean." I could feel your passion in your words and think you did a nice job. Congratulations on your HC!
Lisa Enqvist 
10/18/15
I really like the way you shared your life with zest - then without - and now with returning zest. Many young people have thought the same way as you did, often with sad results.
God bless you with all the ZEST you need to finish your calling - writing as well!