It was a new restaurant offering an unknown cuisine and culture. I had heard of the country. With glowing food comments and a start-up founder on his way to great things, everything I imagined about what would follow was wrapped in a glow of hope and possibilities. With the order placed, I considered fresh salt and pepper’s potential roles in what would follow. As helpful as they could be on the edges, they would not define the dish. Relying on them was not the answer and could, in the end, be the problem.
I smiled at first, wondering if there was a place or time I could be when life would not whisper. In my quiet and loud moments, life consistently offers to teach and guide me.
My actions cannot fix the core failures in my life. I can help. The actions I can take can be the start of the process. When combined with compassionate forgiveness offered by others, healing and restoration of my wounds will follow. When reliance is placed on a higher power that recreates the best within me, healing occurs. Frankly, “The plain fact is that bull and goat blood can’t get rid of sin.” (Hebrews 10.4) Dealing with failure takes Divine action delivered by others and graciously accepted with humble thankfulness that extends through my heart and soul.
Saying yes is more than words. Salt and pepper often bring out the flavours in a dish. Too much, and the dish is ruined. There are certain dishes that, no matter what balance salt and pepper bring, the results still need to be returned to the kitchen for a fresh attempt. For a chef to be successful, the dish will deliver flavours, textures, and the passion of cooking to the patron in a way s/he can enjoy. Saying yes to the moment is complete when one brings one’s heart and soul into a relationship with others, wrapped with care, kindness, and joy.
Everyone has a limit that will change with others. Divinity, directly and through others, opens my door to a new world.
