The chili I made yesterday wasn’t my best. We were snowed in and missing a few key items, so I made do with substitutions. It worked out—and on a cold winter’s night, chili and cornbread is still the right combination—but it lacked the depth of my original intent. It was “good enough,” but it wasn’t what I had imagined.
Our friend Carlye always says, “Baking is easy if you follow the recipe.” The problem is that most people—myself included—tend to fudge. But while baking is a science, life rarely provides a perfect pantry. Whether it’s a pot of soup or my spiritual walk, I often find myself substituting discipline for convenience.
I know the “recipe” for a healthy life—the right food, exercise, and rest—yet I still fudge. I do the same with my spiritual life. I know I need time for prayer, meditation, worship, and service, yet when life gets “snowy,” my spiritual discipline is often the first thing to compromise.
As Lent approaches, I am looking at my “lenten recipe.” I know the plan, but I’m also preparing for a few failures. Just as that snowstorm forced my hand in the kitchen, life will inevitably tempt me to cut corners. This season, my goal is to strive for the ideal discipline of faith while leaving plenty of room for grace. Lent, after all, isn’t about executing a perfect plan; it’s about acknowledging our tendency to wander and finding our way back to the table when we fall short.
Excellent! Lenten preparation!
Thanks Dana!