The Marked Meal
(A Modern-Day Parable & Devotional Inspired by the dream of Lydia Adams)
In a bustling coastal town, a woman named Selah attended a fellowship dinner hosted by her longtime friend, Coreen. The table was full of laughter, conversation, and fried fish freshly caught that morning. As Selah took a bite, her face twisted—something was off. Turning the fish over, she saw streaks of blue ink bleeding across its surface. A careless worker had left a marker on the plate while labeling the dishes, and the ink had soaked into the food. Selah tried to rid herself of it, but it wouldn’t come up.
Later that evening, Selah met her old friend Judah for dinner at a local café. As they talked, she noticed familiar faces from her old church—Pastor George and Pastor Jarvis, both dining with their families. When she rose to leave, Pastor Jarvis’ wife followed her out the door, pushing a stroller so close that Selah could barely move. It wasn’t until Pastor Jarvis called her back that she stopped and turned away.
That night, Selah boarded a charter bus with both pastors and other travelers. The bus twisted down dark backroads at dangerous speed, the driver unmoved by the worried murmurs. Selah gripped her seat, realizing they were traveling fast but not forward—only around and around.
By morning, she found herself standing in the halls of Cornerstone Church, wearing black and white. The music ministry had been divided—seasoned singers now called “The Voice Team,” newer ones “The Sound Team.” The older members were moved aside while the younger received greater attention. As Selah watched, she saw some walking out from a small, narrow doorway. When she stepped closer, she realized it wasn’t narrow at all—someone had quietly widened it and broken the locks that once kept others from passing through.
When a friend asked her why the groups had been divided, Selah answered slowly, “They say it’s to give her more time to grow the new ones,”—referring to the new director, Wendy—“but somehow, it doesn’t feel right.”
In her spirit, Selah heard a gentle whisper:
“Not all food that looks good is pure. Not every door that’s narrow was cut by Me. But the door that I open, no one can shut.”
📖 Devotional: “Purified Palate”
In this parable, Selah represents the believer who has matured enough to taste the difference between what is spiritually authentic and what is manmade. The fish she eats—tainted by blue ink—symbolizes teachings, influence, or fellowship once good but now polluted by human ambition and labeling. Just as ink bled through the plate, human agendas can seep into spiritual spaces meant to nourish others.
When Selah later encounters familiar leaders and old circles, she feels pressed upon—crowded by what used to define her. Yet, as she journeys through confusing roads and shifting church structures, she discovers that God has quietly been enlarging hidden exits and breaking old locks. What was once narrow and confining is being opened by divine hands.
This story reminds us that God will sometimes let us taste contamination so we’ll never settle for it again. He teaches us discernment not to shame others, but to guard the purity of what He’s placed in us. When He exposes mixture, it’s an act of mercy—calling us to freedom, clarity, and authenticity.
Reflection Questions:
Have I been “fed” by something that looks spiritual but doesn’t sit right in my spirit?
Where might God be enlarging doors of freedom in my life that I’ve been afraid to walk through?
Am I clinging to old tables, or am I allowing God to move me to new spaces of nourishment?
Scripture Focus:
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”
— Psalm 34:8
Prayer:
Lord, cleanse my palate from every mixture. Help me discern Your truth from man’s opinion. Where You are breaking old locks, give me courage to walk through. May I never hunger for polluted food again, but only for Your pure presence. Amen.