Mindy Lee Hopman

You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16  

We Need Salt 

My family lived in Central Florida for 13 years before we moved to the Lowcountry of South Carolina and as a runner, I put a lot of miles on the streets throughout the neighborhood, around the orange groves which existed before the frost, and the West Orange Trail! 

I tried to run every race Disney offered. My kids ran the kids’ dash’s and mile run – while I ran the Disney 5k, Inaugural Princess half marathon alongside the frogs waiting to be kissed, and the Disney full marathon! The full was so fun as it kicked off with fireworks, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy came out along the course as we ran (Yes, people actually stopped to take pictures with them!) Disney movie trivia lined the highways the races were always fun and exciting! 

 

 

My sister and I ran together. For the full, we trained for months and paced each other the entire 26.2 miles! While we nourished ourselves with water, bananas, and energy supplements, I still hit a wall right around mile 25. I was three-fourths of the way through Epcot when my mind and my body felt finished. Noticing my struggle, my sister grabbed my hand and said “We’re finishing this together!” Another runner came up beside me and handed me a small packet of salt, like the kind you get to sprinkle on your French fries at a fast-food restaurant! I tried a taste of the salt on my tongue and my body immediately responded. My legs regained strength and I actually enjoyed the last leg! We held hands as we raced across the finish line with huge smiles of victory on our faces! We had finished! 

I needed salt. When running the distance of a marathon, salt or sodium is the primary electrolyte lost through sweat. Our bodies need electrolytes to direct fluid to our cells for hydration. 

Remember the Salt! 

When my physical body was depleted and tired, I needed salt. 
When my spiritual body is depleted or tired, I need salt. 

It is the last stretch of school for many of us and I’m thinking we are all feeling a little depleted from the end of the year festivities which are elevated due to the anxiety many are still feeling regarding the pandemic which is coming to an end but is not over yet. While stress levels are high, I want to encourage you to keep your head in the game and “Stay Salty.” 

What does that even mean? What is so special about salt? 

Salt symbolizes our enduring covenant with God. 2 Chronicles 13:5 says, “Do you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?” The covenant is God’s promise to us that He will always be there, always provide for us, and always have our best interests in mind. Salt reminds us of God’s covenant and that God keeps His promises. 

The covenant is to be remembered also that it may excite gratitude. Whenever I think of God entering into covenant that he will not depart from me, and that I shall never depart from him, my love to him overflows. Nothing constrains me to such activity, and such zeal in the cause of God, as a sense of covenant love. -Charles Spurgeon

This reminder of the covenant of grace we enter into with God when we accept His Son as Savior and Lord of our lives helps us to continue to serve Him at 100% in all we do, and he will provide the strength and endurance for us to cross the finish line! 

Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. Mark 9:50 (NASB1995)

Salt comes from a spirit who is informed and influenced by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus walked this earth, He taught what appeared to be an upside-down perspective in the Beatitudes: 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blesses are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:3-12 (NASB1995)

What appeared upside down was actually right-side up.
Jesus continued to say:

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:13 (NASB1995)

Stay Salty 

On the cross, Jesus brought reconciliation to our broken world. Mark and Matthew charge those who follow Him to keep the faith in a healthy state with their wisdom from the Word and teaching from the Word so that the world may be seasoned by their love. 

In today’s lingo and slang, people say they are “salty” when they are angry or bitter about something. To many, Stay Salty means to remain in your state of anger or bitterness for as long as you want. But those words do not align with God’s Word.  

Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Colossians 4:6 (NASB1995) 

So “Stay Salty” actually means letting the goodness of God’s love fill you up so full that you can’t help but overflow with kindness, mercy, and peace onto everyone you meet! 

Students, friends, family, teachers, coaches, administrators, you’ve got this today, because He has you.
These words come from God’s word. God’s Word is true. God’s Word is enough. 
You are so loved! 

 

Click here to watch the “Stay Salty” video message!