(Originally posted October 12, 2018)
I recently posted about the craziness that the last several months have consisted of and I would like to try to put into words something that happened one day while I was cooking a meal for the family while Marleny was still in the hospital with her invasive back surgery. (It turned out pretty tasty, if I do say so, myself. hehe)
The journey of learning how to cook like a Dominican woman has been a bit frustrating along the way because it is SO different than what I grew up accustomed to - and so in many ways I have felt incompetent in a task that was so simple for me in the States. This particular day I didn't have anyone in the kitchen to help me because all of us were stretched so thin, we were all in different places fulfilling different tasks. So - good or bad - I had to make it work.
I was following the recipe that Ana had helped me jot down that morning, (Is it a recipe if the instructions are, "Throw in a little of this and add a little of that"?) and I got to the point where I had to grind the garlic. I reached for the "pilón," and I stopped short.
"God, I feel like I'm in the pilón and that I'm being crushed."
The Holy Spirit embraced me in that moment.
"Yes, you are, my child. I put you there. One day you will understand. You will see My glory as you remain steadfast and faithful in spite of the crushing. The crushing will make you more beautiful and more useful for the sake of the Gospel."
In the pilón, form changes. In the pilón, flavors become stronger. A different fragrance is released. And after the crushing, that flavor, the fragrance - it makes the final dish more savory - and the people can eat, be satisfied, and leave the table different than when they arrived.
The pilón isn't just for grinding garlic - but since that is what I used it for that day in the hot, tin-roofed kitchen, let me just follow this thought for a minute or two.
A head of garlic (or a whole garlic) has "cloves" that you break apart.
- Brokenness.
Then you have to peel the skin off, because you don't want the papery skin in your food. (Gross.)
- Elimination of what doesn't belong; what doesn't fulfill the purpose of the one who grinds.
Then you toss the garlic in the pilón and begin to press and to grind.
- Crushing.
When you think that maybe you've crushed enough - the Dominican woman beside you says, "A little more."
- His timing is different than ours. There is purpose in the amount of time that He leaves us in the crushing.
Things to remember while we are in the time of crushing -
1.) God never leaves or forsakes us. (Joshua 1:9)
2.) God is the God who sees. (Genesis 16:13)
3.) God is fighting for us. (Exodus 14:14)
4.) Even when we can't see Him, hear Him, or feel Him - He is still working. (John 5:17, Phil 2:13)
5.) Everything that happens in this life is temporary. This season has an end. Hang on. Press on. Keep trusting. Keep "faith-ing." Keep believing. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Romans 8:28)
6.) God.Never.Fails. (Hebrews 13:8, Lamentations 3:22-23)
Blessings to each of you. You are so loved.
