One of the books I read while I was on sabbatical had nothing to do with the church! It was Michael Moss’ book “Salt Sugar Fat, How the Food Giants Hooked Us”. Moss is a New York Times reporter and he studied the food industry to see how multinational companies hook consumers onto their products. It is a fascinating exposure to the inside workings of the development of processed foods. From coca-cola to lunchables the food industry is all about figuring ways to sell more and more.
From Moss I learned a new term – “bliss point”. This is the term used by food scientists to describe the perfect sugary sweetness or saltiness in a product that will send the consumer ‘over the moon’ or as the term would suggest – into a state of ‘bliss’.
Ever since reading the book I have been thinking about the bliss point in my eating. We do try to be careful in our household about what we eat, steering clear of anything with too much sodium or fat or sugar. But the idea of a ‘bliss point’ did explain to me how sometimes those cravings overtake me and why, especially when I start eating something that I know is not good for me, I just can’t stop. I never buy potato chips – but I sure love it when I go some where and there is a bowl of them sitting there for me to vacuum down!
I am wondering if it is possible to transfer the term into other aspect of life, to define a state of bliss. Where is your ‘bliss point’? When does it feel like your life is blissful? It is an interesting question. Too often it is easy to talk about things that are wrong. Can we find the words to describe something that is so perfectly right it feels like bliss?
For me bliss includes …
a long dinner and a leisurely evening with dear friends
a hike down a forest trail
the sound of a creek babbling over stones and rocks
holding a sleeping baby
a church full of people singing with conviction a favourite hymn
the sound of children laughing
the smell of buttery popcorn
the overture to a stage musical
fresh, clean flannelette sheets on the bed
those days when the family has all arrived home
and, of course, a bowl of salt & vinegar potato chips!
What are your ‘bliss points’?
