Maybe he crawled out in search of a dead moth.
Maybe he was just lonely.
Maybe he was rehomed, given a new place to live - lifted under the cloak of night from the comfort of his shiny ceramic bowl!
But maybe the ‘Perp’ was hungry and had nothing to eat and tried his newly acquired YouTube culinary skills with a seasoned pot of homemade Turtle Stew.
But maybe my turtle had nothing to do with French cuisine or the lack thereof; it's possible the Perp just wanted something different to dine on.
Isn’t this something we can all relate?
Enjoying the same foods routinely can bring a sense of comfort. Though If you’re like many, the food circulating your dinner plate is sometimes a little, I dare say, boring.
That said, the anticipation of "normal" albeit repeated meals, provides a palatal safety net. No crossed-up taste buds fighting to name the fungus or mash dancing inside your mouth!
There is a basic structure planned into your daily/weekly nourishment even if it does repeat itself.
Remember Meatloaf Thursday? Or maybe Turtle Soup in this case?
Like listening to your favorite song on Spotify OVER AND OVER AGAIN, some foods just hit that 'sweet spot' and you just want to hit 'repeat' again and again.
(*Hello NUUUUTELLLLLAAA!)
What our dearly departed turtle represents is our daily need for food - sustenance - the vital nutrients which keep our tanks full, and maintain our energy. And for many, the joy of eating comes full circle not only in variety, but in the companionship of family, and friends.
Could it be our innate desire to enjoy fellowship around a table is born from the very breath God gave us? Consider how many times Jesus spoke about food, fellowship, or dining among friends.
According to Strong’s concordance, there are forty-eight verses that mention the word ‘food’ in the bible. More specifically, one hundred and twelve are actual verses about food.
The very word ‘dinner’ evokes feelings of warmth and connection, sending even the most hardened heart reminiscing - to a familial land where food and conversation are massaged like soft butter on a toasted baguette. It’s the cohesive centerpiece unifying hearts, where safety, conversation, and laughter are shared without judgment.
Maybe that’s why there are so many references to food, dining, or dinner in the bible.
Perhaps Jesus knew just how important it was for people to 'change it up' - to dine with others, savoring tidbits of intimate conversations, a funny story, or a hearty belly laugh. He knew that between bowls of lentils, and flatbread, between Gefilte and fish sauce, daily and intentional camaraderie would be the backbone of strong friends and families.
Ecclesiastes 9:7, Psalm 107:9
Friends, whether you prefer quick food, vegan food, a great burger, or a full 6-course meal, be intentional sharing a meal with family, and new folks within your community or church family.
You just never know; they may serve the most delish pot of homemade Turtle Soup!
