Breakfast with The Champion

Do you know what Michael Phelps eats for breakfast? In a Wall Street Journal Blog by Sarah Rubenstein titled: The Michael Phelps Diet: Don’t Try It at Home she recounts this champion's typical morning meal.

"Breakfast: Three fried-egg sandwiches loaded with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions and mayonnaise. Two cups of coffee. One five-egg omelet. One bowl of grits. Three slices of French toast topped with powdered sugar. Three chocolate-chip pancakes."

I pretty much eat the same. That is, I usually have two cups of coffee and a bowl of granola or oatmeal. So not really the same, but I do have coffee.

Do you know what Jesus ate for breakfast? True, He didn't get any gold medals, but He did keep quite a busy schedule most days. According to His beloved friend, John:

"When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.'"

His friend Mark adds: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."

I used to hear how Mother Theresa got up at 4:00 to pray and think, "Of course! Such a religious practice fits for people like, well, Mother Theresa and Jesus. I live a busy American life with sitcoms and comedians to refresh me late at night. I can't get up early to pray!"

Now, maybe I'm getting older, but I've lost my appetite for those empty, brief laughs. I am hungry for more, for something that will not only fuel my day but really satisfy me.

"Come and have breakfast." Jesus prepared the meal. He's ready to serve it, but will I rationalize ten more minutes of sleep instead? Trouble is, those ten minutes are just never enough to really revitalize me.

On the days, however, when I do follow the Voice, I am refreshed. Not fully awake, especially right away, but fed and loved. Jesus meets me with a forgiveness and grace that transforms selfish me into a loving wife, mom and friend.

I may never be able to stomach Michael Phelps' breakfast (I hope!), but as my Bible study leader Candace Van Ark said this week, I can daily "have breakfast with The Champion Himself." He is too much for me to handle, too, but somehow He makes it work.

Thank You for the invitation, Jesus. Here's my RSVP...