The Gift of Ranch

So, what’s on my mind?

With the US Men’s team out of the World Cup, I can now say that one of my favorite parts wasn’t actually the soccer. It was watching visitors from around the world experience America for the first time. One German fan named Freddy became something of an internet celebrity as he traveled through Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. He enthusiastically documented everything from Waffle House to Helen, Georgia. There was even a video of him rolling down Green Street in Gainesville that made national news. It was fun watching someone genuinely enjoy places that many of us simply drive past.

Then there was the ranch dressing. Apparently, many international visitors discovered America’s favorite condiment and decided they couldn’t leave without it. While no one seems to know exactly how many bottles of ranch were confiscated at airport security, the trend became popular enough that the TSA felt the need to remind travelers specifically that large bottles of the blessed sauce belong in checked luggage, not carry-on bags.

It made me laugh. Americans have become so accustomed to ranch dressing that we hardly think about it anymore. Meanwhile, visitors were trying to stuff bottles into their suitcases because they had discovered something they didn’t want to leave behind.

That got me wondering how often we do the same thing with God’s gifts. The blessings that surround us every day can become so familiar that we stop noticing them. A meal shared with family. A conversation with a friend. The quiet comfort of prayer. The freedom to gather for worship. The grace of God that meets us every single morning.

James reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” (And yes, that includes ranch.) Sometimes the greatest gifts aren’t the ones we receive for the first time. They’re the ones we’ve had all along but have forgotten to appreciate.

So, this week, I hope you’ll take a moment to notice the gifts that have become ordinary. Thank God for the people you love. Savor a meal. Enjoy a sunset. Worship with gratitude. Read a passage of Scripture as though you’re hearing it for the first time.

May God hold you,
Rev Chris Hester