It was a last minute opportunity. Friends were visiting. It was well past the time for dinner. I could see that they were hungry. “Would you like to stay for dinner? I do not have much to offer – perhaps rice with some southern-styled vegetables cooked with an Asian twist.”
I knew the answer before their mouths began to move. The sparkle in their eyes was enough. “What would that look like?”
“I do not know. We will find out together.”
Okra, greens, and beets came out of the fridge. Memories of my grandmother, aunt, and mom flooded my mind. What would they do? How would they adapt to the situation?
Okra breaded with cornmeal and Asian spices were fried first. As I cut the parboiled beets into slices for frying, the pepper and chili were added as a twist. The sautéed greens were complete when I combined them with Malaysian sambar. I had no idea which cuisine I was using as a foundation, however the process seemed to make a random kind of sense. As I tasted each dish along the way, little touches told me that they were becoming more and more complete. For each dish, with the “one” touch, I knew. “When the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.” (1 Corinthians 13.10)
As we sat down to eat I was quietly hopeful. I knew I would enjoy the meal but would the others? As I looked into their eyes, I realized that they were hopeful as well. They trusted what I was putting in front of them, open to possibilities and new experiences.
As I cleared the dishes away later, everything had been eaten. The satisfied eyes reminded me of the moments when I have been filled. Physically, mentally, and spiritually, it is a variation on the feeling of completeness. My body’s need for food had been met. In opening myself up for the Spirit, I found myself filled by God.
Being filled is never a one-time event. It is something we experience again, and again, and then again. It makes us whole.
