The Peeling of an Orange

Photo Credit: Google

Oranges. Citrus sinensis. Most especially, the Navel Orange. They are succulent, delicious, and a wonder.

But hard to peel. 

I have recently learned an important lesson from my ever-resourceful Husband concerning the best process of The Peeling of an Orange. As I was preparing a snack of navel orange this evening, I was reflecting on my appreciation for this impressive specimen of God's amazing design, and also my history with Navel Oranges. 

Throughout childhood, oranges were always sliced. Always. Daddy took them in eighths, I preferred them in fourths (the better to suck on) until I discovered the joy of tearing up all of a sweet eighth in one bite. But always cut. Tangerines, well now - those were peeled, because they were "easy" to do so. I think I grew up thinking that oranges were simply too difficult to peel, a conclusion based on the evidence of my own experimentation. So I always cut my oranges, once I was old enough to do so for myself. But what if I received an orange and there was no knife around? The orange was free to keep its piquant treasure to itself for a while longer, until a knife could be found. 

Such was the case - or so I thought - one weekend when Favored and I were babysitting for a family at an out-of-town wedding. Our guest room had a goodie bag which contained a beautiful and exceedingly large orange. We were filled with glee, but my heart began to sink - where would we find a knife to cut up this orange? It would be doomed to roll around in our luggage until we got back home and could carve it up properly. Then, epiphany struck, in the form of Favored reaching out, cupping the succulent globe in her hands, and beginning to tear into its glowing skin. I was shocked! But surprise gave way to delight: whole sections of orange, wrapped in the delicate membranes that God gave them as they grew upon the sunny trees. Ah! that was a feast to remember. Well, she probably doesn't remember it, because she grew up eating oranges that way, but for me it was an Enlightenment, a turning point - and I would be forever changed. A peeled orange? Who'd a thunk it?! 

And so I have enjoyed peeling oranges ever since, relishing in the sport and superior taste - perhaps it is because I was a late-comer to the whole orange peeling scene. It's the little things in life, I'm sure of it. 

Something happened in recent weeks that has made peeling oranges even easier, more satisfying - for The Steward watched me peeling a lovely Costco orange one evening. He noticed that I had no rhyme or reason for where I would begin, that I would simply attack whichever side I happened upon first, peeling my way around helter-skelter. Wife, are you going to peel the top? Huh? It's easier to start at the top and peel down. Whoa - mind blown. Peeling oranges just got better. 

So I am here, enjoying my scrumptious navel orange, writing a very random note about the peeling of an orange. I laugh at myself. God is good, and I am grateful for sweet oranges and His goodness revealed in the simplest of things.