I’ve been reading a book on the craft of writing by James Scott Bell (a terrific writer who’s work I admire) – which suggested that each morning’s discipline might start with a word-play exercise of ‘free-writing’ (quick rambles with no editing allowed).

For inspiration, the author shared a strategy, which I call ‘magic-dictionary’. He suggested opening the dictionary at random, then free-thinking and writing about the first noun, seen on the left page.

Mr. Bell said this discipline gets the juices of his imagination flowing, and sharpens writing skills. He also suggested that gold-nugget ideas may bubble to the surface as a happy by-product, which might go on to spark a stand-alone story premise, or enrich projects already in development.

Since my passion includes writing encouragement and support for believers facing discouragement, depression or anxiety — Christ’s admonition to rejoice is often on my mind. Philippians 4:4-9 tells us to …

‘Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”

So, I looked up the word ‘Rejoice’. It means to live with ‘Exuberance’. I love that word. It cheers me just to feel it on my lips and hear it come out of my mouth. I have confessed to being a relentless optimist. I have to be, because it’s the only way I can live with enthusiasm (which seems as important to my quality of life as the air I breathe).

I modified the ‘magic-dictionary’ practice, to include looking up a word definition and checking it out in my gigantic Super-Thesaurus and Synonym Finder references. The results surprised me.

Take that word, exuberance for example: among the synonyms I found vitality, ebullience, buoyancy, abundance, enthusiasm, whole-heartedness; generosity, effervescence, and many more.

Two other synonyms (‘yeastiness’ and ‘zest’), immediately conjured up visions of culinary art. (Ooops, there goes my food appreciation again).

We all know that baker’s yeast is needed to transform heavy dough – into light and delicious bread, cakes, and other yummy creations. Yeast is also required for brewing.

Allow those images to tickle your imagination as an analogy for adding effervesence or helping us to ‘rise’ when cooking up emotional recipes. Got it?

More word-play on this theme: A good cook might ‘zest’ a lemon – to spike flavor in a variety of other dishes. I bet you can think of one or two right now

To ‘zest’ a lemon requires a thorough pre-wash, then scraping away (grating) surface layers of the peel. A good cook is careful to capture the citrus essence of flavor, without cutting into the bitter pith (that white layer just under the skin), or piercing the fruit. Just the right amount of ‘zest’ (peeled, and shredded), can make culinary magic. It’s all for a good cause, but I wonder if the Lemon would understand that – during the process?

OK, let’s take the analogy back to emotional experience, and consider the ‘fruit of the spirit’…

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

At times we may feel so low-down – it seems we’d have to look up, just to glimpse the bottom of our particular well of grief. In those moments it’s hard to even imagine joy.  Yet scripture dictates our need to … ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’

It’s not always easy – but it is always good. So how, exactly, can we do that?

Here’s one strategy:

First we need a thorough pre-wash, gained by reading God’s word. This doesn’t require an exhaustive ‘study’. You could modify the ‘magic dictionary’ approach to fit a bible promise book or a brief devotional aid. Here’s a sample from Titus 3: 4-5

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared (not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy), He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

In prayer we can ask for this washing and regeneration, any time, through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Next we need to scrape away some of the surface peel. The finest tools include the power of thanks and praise – even when (or especially when) we don’t feel like it.

We may need to go deeper than the outermost surface of our experience to find gratitude (without cutting too deeply or over-analyzing).  If I can’t think of anything praise-worthy within my momentary disaster – can I identify one thing that blesses me by its absence?  For example: If I don’t feel strength or energy – can I be grateful for the absence of excruciating pain? If I’ve wrecked the car – I can be glad that I’m still alive to cope with repairs.

Learn to play the ‘Glad’ game.

It takes deliberate, hard work to develop this habit – but I promise it can change and enhance the flavor of life.

Remember to use caution as you peel through the ‘stuff’ of emotions. Don’t torture an area with gouging, continuous guilt or get ‘stuck’ on regrets of the past. Let go and trust the Master, who knows exactly how much peeling needs to be done.

Scrape, grate, slice, and shred: these are not ‘comfort’ words but, in the hands of a Master Chef, those actions lead to delicious results.

I believe God knows every detail of my past, present, and future. He has a recipe. If it doesn’t seem sweet to me at times, He may not be finished yet. I might need a bit more ‘zest’ or time in the oven.

To be exuberant is to have zest – which spikes the flavors in our own lives … and perhaps adds sweetness for those around us too. Bon Appetite !

Blessings, Love and Laughter,

Marge

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1. If  ‘zest’ has spiked flavor in your cookery, can you add a strategy for finding an   emotional equivalent?
2. Will you share a way you might apply this analogy?