Steve Alessi: Author of Alessi’s Angle, Pastor of Metro Life Church in Miami, Husband of World Renown Worship Leader Mary Alessi and Father of Four.
The table
was set in very modest decor at "The Mecca" restaurant and I was
looking for a bottle of hand sanitizer as I was seated with a large group of
friends. You know how that works when you're at a place that isn't really clean
or dirty; just old. Well, according to their sign, good 'ole "Mecca"
had been "waking up Dallas" since the turn of the century, which was
odd because there weren't any cars of awake Texans parked outside. It did seem
however that some of the patrons inside might have attended their grand opening
in 1903. We were escorted upstairs to a group dining area in this 100 year old
house-turned-restaurant and I found myself following the leader and picking a
seat. Even as a very UN-finicky eater... I was quite curious to see just how many
unwelcome guests would accompany my scrambled eggs.
Somehow,
according to someone in the group, having breakfast at "The Mecca"
was a must!! Maybe tradition or folklore or someone else's great experience.
I'm thinking it was a sort of breakfast Russian Roulette, where if you made it
out alive you could etch another notch in your belt. "Wait 'til you see
the Cinnamon Rolls" was the talk of the table. Funny, only two or three in
the group of twenty had ever been to "The Mecca", but the entire
party was already convinced that the cinnamon rolls where "to die
for"; not exactly the description I wanted to hear. However, the famous
(or infamous) rolls were already ordered along with a family style breakfast. I
must admit that I was starting to silently admire a place that would serve
cinnamon rolls as an appetizer to any meal so I went along with the group's
decisions.
Each roll
was the size of a monster truck tire; they smelled heavenly and looked even
better as the waitress placed one roll centered to every four people at the
table. They were perfectly baked, delicately glazed and literally wading in a
visible pool of butter. Now, I don't know what your mouth just did during this
description, but if was anything like what my mouth did.... just get a napkin
and strap it to your chest. Suddenly, the surroundings became unimportant, hand
sanitizer became an after-thought and focus hit me like a ton a bricks; it's
one of those moments where you regret being taught how to share.
Immediately,
the voice of reason began to surface into my thoughts. "Do you realize
that you will be ingesting 250 calories every time a utensil-full hits your
palette?" That's without the mandatory butter-dip that will take place
before leaving the plate of course. So, while that voice was arguing with my
more tangible senses, I dug in. Needless to say, we devoured that mountain of
gooeyness in record time, but halfway through that roll is where the idea for
this blog came to mind.
I noticed
that we would all look at each other between each bite, during the very short
pauses of politeness, to see what the other person's next move was going to be.
As my insides were screaming, "Nooooooooo" my desire was making all
the decisions and the only encouragement I needed was someone else going in for
another piece. I even heard, "Alright I'm done" from the some of the
guys as they pushed the plate away; but as long as someone went for another
piece; we all followed. No one was "done"...we cleared our buttery
delight; as well as the leftovers from two other plates that the ladies could
not convince themselves to finish. Before the main course had even hit the
table we had indulged ourselves to complete fullness. We had consumed five
monster truck tire cinnamon rolls and they were GOOOOOD!!! Just not good for
us.
And I
thought, isn't this how life is at times? We know that there's something better
for us; something healthy, around the corner. The main course is on its way; a
plate that will not only fulfill us but nourish us at the same time...yet we
over-indulge on what is harmful. And one of the primary forces behind doing
what we know is not best for us is the pressure of our peers. I remember in my
younger years my mom always saying, "...and because everybody else is
doing it means that you have to do it too?". Funny how the battle against
outside pressure still exists in adulthood.
Have you
ever experienced the dilemma of deciding against the crowd? Have you ever
pursued something unhealthy because your decision making was influenced in some
way? Those cinnamon rolls were absolutely delicious, but they did have consequences and I
can say that I might have stopped had there not been others around to
"inspire" me to continue. In the end, the decision is always ours but
the atmosphere and company we keep has tremendous influence.
This week's blog was written by Armando Gomez.
This week's blog was written by Armando Gomez.
Ok, Mando...I found myself literally drooling during the blog! LOL... Nicely Put! Funny you write about "other's inspiring us" and about the "company we keep has tremendous influence" Just yesterday I tweeted "The group of people you associate with says a lot about your character. In my opinion, we're on the right track." and tagged a numerous amount of MLC folks. I also would here from my mama "Dime con quien andas te dire quien eres" Tell me who your hanging around with and I'll tell you who you are! So that voice always pushes me to be in the company of those that are depositing positive seeds and that are building not tearing down! I find most of that company at the coolest, dopest, FONKETE church there is Metro Life Church.
I think I gained about 3 pounds on each side just LOOKING at the picture of that cinnamon roll! "...the decision is always ours but the atmosphere and company we keep has tremendous influence" is going in my journal for the day. Thanks for sacrificing the calories so you could share with us.
I want to fly to TEXAS for a Cinnamon Roll the size of a monster truck wheel...lol
It was funny to read this blog in Pastor's voice then reading your name and thinkIng, "ha, I should have known it was Mando" :) great work. Thanks for sharing. Wish I would have read it before lunch today. :)