Jalapeños

I did something really dumb last night.....

Last night us missionaries here in the Santa Rosa Spanish Branch got taken out to dinner at what is called a taquería (basically the Spanish name for a taco shop). A young couple from the Branch bought us the dinner and spent some time with us. The food was wonderful, the company was pleasant, and my stomach was full to bursting. I was content. We got to a little bit of chit chatting and the conversation touched on food for a moment. Someone made a comment about things we like and don't like to eat, and they also observed that I was one that typically ate everything that was ever put in front of me nowadays (this person knows me very well....). I agreed and said, "Since my mission, I have decided to eat what I am given. No matter what. I don't want to be ungrateful or wasteful. The food people give me as a missionary out of their own free will is a gift and a privilege." I was of course saying this out of all seriousness.

But someone at the table decided to test me. I still don't know who... no one will fess up. But the next thing I know, I have a little bowl with two jalapeños in it sitting right in front of me. Everyone at the table is looking at me expectantly as if to say, "Well, you did say you would eat everything and anything if put in front of you. Let's see if you'll really walk the walk after you've talked the talk." I of course, am extremely impulsive when it comes to peer pressure and fun little dares and stuff like that. So this is a horrible combination, ladies and gentleman.

I down them both. At the same time. I chew them relentlessly for about 30 seconds.

"Meh. This isn't so bad....." (cue intense burning of torment and fire that will not stop rising for the next half hour).

Yeah. I really regret it. "That was not smart. Thaaaaaaat was not smart..." (Quote from "What About Bob?"). It was so flippin' hot that I hyperventilated a little bit. I lost feeling in my nose and fingertips. And the thing is, I KNEW that something to that effect was going to happen! I KNEW that I was not going to enjoy the consequences! I KNEW it was going to be excruciating, horrific, would-rather-have-shards-of-glass-in-my-eyes bad..... but I still did it. I was fully aware of the consequences and I still caved.

TIE IN TO THE GOSPEL TIME: We all know what is wrong and what is right. We all know that there are negative consequences to giving into temptation and sin. No matter how fancy you dress it up, a pig is still a pig, and sin is still sin. So WHY on Earth would we give into it? Because we are not perfect. But we always have the choice to not give into it in the first place. So today, that is my invitation to y'all. Next time something you know is wrong, impulsive, dumb, immature, sinful, prideful, or WHAT HAVE YOU THAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T DO OR SAY comes your way, DON'T DO IT. You will only regret it. Learn from my stupidity people; I know I sure have.