Salt is bad for me.

At least, that is what I was taught as a young girl. God allowed French fries and potato chips to have salt because without them, well, they lost their identity. But otherwise, I thought adding salt to your food was something you shouldn’t do to be healthy. I even remember that my grandmother Mimi thought salt was so unique that to spill it was sacrilegious, so you had to throw some of this commodity over your shoulder to ward off evil. At that point, salt was a necessity that seemed scary. Of course, my young mind came to its own conclusions and tried to avoid the “salt” cart in the household.

So, one weekend, I went to the department store with my parents. At one point, I had gained a few moments of freedom and found myself in the record department (for those who don’t know what I’m talking about, ask someone who seems to know nothing about computers or the latest tech – they can probably help you ???? Anyway, I’m looking at the latest selections, and I hear my name called over the store’s loudspeaker.

“Rebecca Prettyman (my maiden name) – please report to customer service at the front of the store.”

My first thought – I didn’t do it. Second thought – so who did what?

Promptly, I made my way to the customer service to see my unusually pale mom sitting in a chair as my father stood protectively close to her. I could tell by the worried look on his face that something was wrong with my mom. Anticipating my questions, he pulled me aside and said,

“She has been dieting and passed out from dehydration. But she is ok now – they have gotten her some water and some salt.”

Fast forward to Last Sunday, when I was on the eve of desperately needed spiritual renewal time. Due to ministry challenges, personal loss, and other difficulties, my tank was low. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually, life had become more routine and, at times, lacking flavor. So, before figuratively ending up on the floor and out of commission, I requested sacred time away with Jesus  – and my loving, generous church gave me the space to do just that. So, that evening, I was reading Leviticus. Now, before you jump to conclusions, I did not read Leviticus to put me to sleep – it was the daily reading for the day. Yet, in this often overlooked book of the Bible,  I was struck by what a verse said.

“ And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.” Lev. 2:13

The word “salt” jumped off the page at me.

In reading further – yes, still in the book of Leviticus where I truthfully don’t spend much time – I noted more details. Salt was only added to the grain offering; the offering that came from the ground. Just as we, just as I was formed of the ground. Now curious, I looked deeper.

• Salt added to incense in Exodus 30 for temple worship.
• Salt used as a preservative, fertilizer to encourage growth, and yet a killer of weeds
• Salt only comes from the earth.
• Salt shown as a symbol of loyalty and friendship, of integrity and honesty.
• Salt shown as a symbol of new beginnings and a separation from the past.
• Salt, which like the Spirit, we can’t make in our own bodies so we have to look outside ourselves to fill the need.

On the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? (Matt. 5:13). As a child of God, I came called to share of the “flavor” of Christ; to taste and see that He is good and share that flavorful goodness with others. Like sharing a sweet treat or savory morsel. Yet, I felt like my salt tank was low.

In Mark 9:5, Jesus brings up this issue of salt again: “Salt is good but if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again?”

That’s when I realized the truth. The salt – the flavor of Christ – was still there in my life. However, I had let it become diluted, diluted by worries and concerns. Diluted by meetings and even well-meaning ministry events. Diluted with the trials and temptations to fill in the blanks on my own. Even diluted by the good that I made the ultimate in ways of priority and presence. When a Christian loses the spiritual salt in their lives, many things can happen: their witness can be rejected or dismissed; they can be a hindrance to the work of Christ, they can be less effective at preserving the precepts and commands put forth in the Word.

Interestingly, Jesus’ “salty verse” directly follows the Beatitudes: “Those who are blessed are who Jesus calls the salt of the earth”

So, what does a spiritual salt-depleted saint and sinner like me do?

In a physical sense, salt is recovered through evaporation brought on by time and heat. Taking my cue from God’s perfect creation, I needed time and heat to restore the salt of the Spirit within me. Is letting the Spirit take control scary, like that salt over-the-shoulder thing? No, but letting the Spirit lead is a sacrifice of self. A sacrifice that required me to relinquish those things in my life that were depleting and diluting work in me and through me. And I was on the eve of such a time: time intentionally set aside and the heat of the Holy Spirit consuming, refining, and restoring me.

• To make me salty in the Spirit again.
• Preserving my values so they do not become diluted.
• Adding flavor to my witness
• Causing others to thirst for Jesus – who is the Way, the Truth, the Life.
• Being a blessing of “flavor” to others.

God’s timing is perfect. That verse was exactly what I needed to start my spiritual renewal on the right foot. All I needed was salt—Spirit and Life Time.

Friends, if you are feeling a little overwhelmed or lacking energy in your spirit – do not despair. We were not meant to do life or ministry on our own. We don’t have it within us. We need to bring ourselves to him as an offering, recognizing we can do nothing for His Kingdom apart from Him.  Lord, through your mercy and by your grace, pass Your salt over us – in us – and among us.

Lord, forgive us for diluting the sacred salt you have placed in our lives by your spirit. Restore our sacred saltiness as the flavor and fragrant offering of my life that is pleasing to you. Thank you for offering your Son to show us what the true “flavor” of life is all about. Amen.