I see God in the kitchen
It's a stretch, but it's true.
This week, I really struggled with what to write about.
Life has been a little bit crazier than normal, with lots of events, deadlines, harder conversations, etc. In all honesty, this past semester has been harder than most. Before I continue, I am immensely blessed and privileged to get to go to school, have home-cooked meals, and pursue a career I dreamt of as a kid. I’m surrounded by so much love and support from my friends and my family. I find peace in my faith, and in my relationship with God. I truly can’t complain about much!
But one thing I do tend to do is STRESS AND WORRY when the stakes really aren’t that high. This semester has been jam-packed with rehearsals, deadlines, memorizations, and outside-of-school worries. Especially with my last year in college, you start getting thrown the obnoxious and dreaded questions of…“WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AFTER YOU GRADUATE?” “WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE?” and the worst one, “WHAT’S YOUR BACK-UP PLAN?”
I’m bunny trailing.
My original point, during the in-between times of deadlines, obligations, and expectations, I’m gonna be in the kitchen. It’s where I find the most peace and where I can fully turn off my mind and create. I’ve recently realized that sometimes I have a hard time balancing my work-life balance unless I’m in the kitchen.
A side note to whoever is reading this…
Dear reader, whether or not you believe the same things I do, I hope you know how welcomed you are to this little page. I’m going to talk about my beliefs and my faith for a little bit in this next section. My goal for writing this isn’t to point fingers and say “I’m right. You’re wrong. I’m better than you because I believe in God…”, but rather just an expression of joy, gratitude, and hope I have because of my beliefs.
As mentioned before, my Siti was a woman of faith, she loved the Lord with her entire being. The fruit of her relationship first with God spread through how she loved others, especially when it came to provision. Making room at her table for anyone, sharing a dish with someone in need, or just out of kindness. Understanding the importance of sharing her faith not in a way that shoves it down people’s throats or in a hypocritical light, but almost always through actions.
I hope and strive to love others the same way. To never condemn with my words or judge others. To show kindness and hope to those around me. Sharing meals and little baked goods with friends or strangers. That my contentment isn’t from being nice or wanting to look like a good person, but because of my faith. Understanding that I don’t have to work for it, or needing to be good enough. I just have to be open and receive what God asks of me, and how to love other people better.
Back to the kitchen (and why the heck God is there)!
In the kitchen, I can envision the creativity of God. The thousands of different cuisines and spices and the amount of creativity it takes to expand on that mesmerize me. How ingredients that may not look great or aren’t appreciated can be made into a beautiful dish. How produce grows from a small seed, is cared for, and turns into something that keeps us alive! The imagery of sharing a meal and having a seat at a table. To be loved and cared for so much so that I have a seat reserved for me? Wow.
None of this may make sense, and that’s okay.
Life recently has been more complicated and stressful, but I have peace because of Christ. Because of what was given to me, and how trusting in God doesn’t always make sense at times (most of the time recently), but is worth it for me.
This writing wasn’t as upbeat as they usually are, but I hope you received a better understanding or even a new perspective of the kitchen and how I envision it!
To end on a lighter note, this past Halloween, I dressed up as the culinary legend and mayor of Flavortown, Guy Fieri.
With love,
Cara