An Acquired Taste

I have eaten spicy food even before I knew about all the health benefits associated with certain spices. Turmeric, ginger, cayenne pepper, cinnamon—all have wonderful properties ranging from increased metabolism to prevention of cancer. I have several friends who are not accustomed to all these strong, pungent flavors. They are unable to reap the benefits of these spices, because they have yet to acquire a taste for them.

C.S. Lewis describes how experiencing God might be an acquired taste.

“It would indeed be true that the joys of Heaven are for most of us, in our present condition, an ‘acquired taste’—and certain ways of life may render the taste impossible of acquisition.” (--from The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis)

Even if someone convinces us that a godly life is beneficial, we might not be able to acquire a taste for it. We might be accustomed to living a certain way, planning our menu of activities based on the culture around us. We may be used to consuming a steady diet of acquisition, busyness, and distraction. Changing our regimen would probably upset our stomach and give us heartburn. We might try to experience God’s presence, but find it unpalatable.

How does one acquire a taste for God?

Well, how do we acquire a taste for anything healthy? Most of the time, healthy food is not the tastiest. So we have to incorporate it gradually, but regularly, into our diet. We also have to deliberately decrease the unhealthy, yet tasty, junk food that we consume. Similarly, we have to develop a palate for God’s company by tasting and chewing on His words, noticing His grace, and experiencing time alone with Him.

“Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.” (Psalm 34:8 MSG)