by J. D. Campbell

Created on: December 18, 2007   Last Updated: December 19, 2007

On Oranges and Pearls

I've recently made a discovery. I often approach life much like I approach oranges. Sounds a little odd, doesn't it? Let me explain. You see, I like oranges. I'd even go so far as to say it's one of my five favorite fruits. And yet, I can't shake the feeling that I've passed up eating one more often that I've actually indulged.

Why? I mean that's the question, isn't it? As I said, it isn't as if I dislike them. It's often hard to beat the sticky sweetness of an orange. I love its flavor! The texture doesn't bother me. I don't even really mind how messy they can be. Man, I even love the way they smell. So why, if I'm so fond of oranges, am I so often reluctant to eat them?

Here's the answer. I hate peeling them. No really, I do. Hate. It. Seems to me like it shouldn't be so hard to unpack something you want to eat. So why do I hate to peel oranges? It takes so long. And it's not like it's easy to get a good peel going. Most of the time you have to take off piece by itty-bitty piece. And have you ever tried to eat one without peeling it? If not, don't try. It's disgusting. Ruins the whole experience.

Now, I know there are other fruits, such as the pineapple or the coconut, that are almost impossible to eat without the help of a very sharp object. I mean, there's no way you could open one of them with just your fingers. (Although once, while watching Animal Planet, I saw a dog crack open a coconut with his teeth.) Sure, you can cut an orange into neat little sections with a knife, and eat the pulp off the rind. Like you would with a watermelon or a cantaloupe. It's just not the same. Besides, I can't get all the fruit when I eat it that way. Have you ever noticed that? You don't get to enjoy the whole orange. No, God designed oranges to be peeled before eating. Probably so people like me can learn life lessons from it.

So you see now, right? I look at an orange, and though I would really love to eat one, it just seems like so much work. There have been times when I've been hungry, not "starving" hungry mind you, just "gee, I'd really like a snack right now" hungry, and have picked up an orange. I'd give it a once over, imagined how good it would taste, and then put it back down, choosing not to eat at all rather than put in the effort to skin a stupid orange.

How does this relate to my other everyday affairs? My struggle with the orange peeling process reveals an ugly character flaw that is evident in other areas of my life. I'm lazy. That's the

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