Usefulness

There is something scary, wonderful, and absolutely disgusting with Asian cooking.  Cooks find anything and everything useful.  Chefs, great and small, do not automatically exclude anything for any reason.  Parts of plans and animal western culture normally ignores is considered and used.  Individuals explore styles of cooking that includes traditional heat or acid.  Connesours often consider the dishes as special delicacies and experience.
 
Bridges that I have not probably will not cross include many food dishes and experiences.  Frankly, they do not appeal to me.  I do not find my choice driven by health or personal views of right and wrong; rather it is a pragmatic sense of what I find attractive.  Certain sashimi dishes, especially an exposed beating heart of a special type of frog is not, for me, appealing.  There are other dishes – from Taiwan, China, and Indonesia, that I do not find attractive or compelling.  In some way, I admire those who enjoy snake blood, ox tongue, and special parts of certain plants I naturally throw away.
 
My natural filter mechanism extends beyond food to events life presents.  I like using the great events in life to learn and grow.  It is not natural to use disasters as building blocks.  My natural reaction is to move on as quickly as possible.  I listen, hear, and absorb.  I also naturally put things into a box and toss the negatives as quickly as possible.  While the process can be helpful, perhaps I am missing something.
 
I listen to God’s voice and hear the words; “I form light and create darkness, I make harmonies and create discords.  I, God, do all these things.”  (Isaiah 45.7)  I know there is a purpose.  I know there is something I can take from the event at hand.
 
Today is an opportunity to find everything useful in life.  The lesson is there, regardless of my reaction.  The teacher is working, even if I am not paying attention.  The window to experience, grow, and contribute is available.  Life is, at its best, something we engage in and contribute to for community.