i_love_turon

The Israelites, in the third chapter of Deuteronomy - or is that fourth? - was already moving down from Horeb to a two-word name for a land that I can’t quite remember because of its complexity (I do recall the first word begins with the letter K, the second, B). So they were moving down from the mountain to the land that has been promised to them, as commanded by God through the Moses. At a certain point, I think when they were at the outskirts of the land promised to them, they decided to send spies to survey the land and its current occupants. The spies went, and then returned, bearing fruits. The land was reported to be fertile and fruitful.

But it happened that the Israelites turned to complaining. They were crying out to God that they were lost - that they have been displaced from Egypt simply to be delivered to a foreign land that was, yes, abounding in natural resources, but was inhabited by what I could only surmise as a tribe of fierce warriors. What amazes me was that, they could afford to address God in such a manner - this is the same God who had parted the Red Sea for them, who had seen them through the Exodus by faithfully providing manna and quail!

Okay, let me rephrase that: What amazes me was that they could afford to doubt God now, after the faithfulness He has shown them! That and oh, how I could relate very well to it!

I read somewhere that some Filipinos have this funny habit of going all the way to France to travel, only to eat at McDonald’s to cut down on the expenses. But I do know that if I were to go to France, I would buy fresh croissants for my breakfast from the boulangerie, take my lunch of quiche or a salad from the delicatessen (or is this Italian? Oh well…), and have coq au vin in a local cafe or pub.

The idea is to savor the experience while you could, because you’ll never know when you’d get to eat in France again. Unless of course you really have the money to go back any time.

For a while, one can forget about McDo. After all, it’s just there around the corner, open any time, offering and serving the same old stuff you order.The same thing with fruits: given the choice between the kumquat or a banana, wouldn’t you go for the exotic fruit whose name you can’t even begin to spell? I think any one would be intrigued enough to do so.

The banana isn’t about to go anywhere. Whatever happens, whether the kumquat turns out to be mean-tasting or not, the banana would still be at every stall, sitting and waiting for the next buyer.

So why miss out on the kumquat now, when you could get your hands on a banana any time, right?