Cupcakes

How many steps do we need to take to reach a goal?  How many are we willing to take?  When is the journey more important than the goal?

Our daughter has a cupcake recipe that she’s made once before.  It’s quite complex, with four steps that each have multiple steps.  

1.  Putting together the cupcake batter & baking.  

2.  Making a filling, chilling & filling.  

3.  Preparing a ganache, cooling & glazing.  

4.  Blending frosting ingredients & frosting.  

Now, I love to bake, but I generally draw the line at three steps.  This type of thing generally is too time-consuming.  And to be honest, making cupcakes is even too putsy for me!  Give me a request for a 9x13 homemade cake, and I’ll run with it! 

I have to say that these cupcakes are some of the tastiest I have ever eaten.  And when she made them before, she did it without my help, so I know she can do this.  But being able to help her and, even more important, her wanting my help, was a journey I enjoyed taking; even when we had to do step 2 twice because of a substitution error. We worked well together and learned more about our styles in the kitchen—tips she’s gleaned from watching me (yes!  She’s paid attention all these years!  J ).  All and all, I was willing to take a few extra steps because the journey was so much bigger than the cupcakes themselves.

Dear God, You know the joy of being with your children.  I was able to experience some of that joy today and I am very satisfied and filled with joy.  Thank you for giving each of us the desire to work together for the benefit of others (the cupcakes are for her classmates—not even for us!!).  Let her see the delight on the faces of her friends when they eat this treat so lovingly made by her.  Amen.

Spending Saturday in a Meeting

I spent the middle of the day (10-3) doing some of the work of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota.  We spend the first part of our day doing Gospel Based Discipleship, where we read a section of scripture and talk about what words or phrases jump out at us.  We do this three times, reading different interpretations of the Bible to try to understand the text more completely.  Being a Church that is working hard to base itself in mission, many of the texts chosen for these meetings are about being sent out into the world to do the work of the Holy.  It is interesting to learn how others view the texts and to see how their insights affect mine, and mine, theirs.  It is another way we work together, learning about the skills and talents we bring to this elected body of the Church.  For now, this will be my last meeting with this group, as my term will end at Convention in September.  I still have work to do until then, but this particular group will not meet again until my term has ended. 

I consider these five years as a Delegate and one year as a member of Council as an integral part of my education.  The work that is done for the good of the Episcopal Church in MN, often without the knowledge of many of the people in the pews, takes time, energy, prayer and working together.  I value this experience as it prepares me in ways seminary cannot, with the people, in the trenches, doing ‘business’ for the purpose of ‘ministry and mission.’

 

Dear Great Convener, you bring people together to do your work in the world.  We try hard to work together for the benefit of many…and for the benefit of few.  We pray that we are efficiently meeting the business needs so that the spiritual, missional and ministerial needs can take a greater role.  Thank you for these people who are looking forward to and who are looking out for all the good work we can do to fulfill your will in the world.  Amen.

Here and There

We have had a beautiful day in our neighborhood today.  Unfortunately, there have been damaging storms in other parts of the state and country.  It’s pretty amazing how much differently we experience weather—from city to city and county to county and state to state. 

Dear God, comfort those who have been affected by crazy weather today.  Be with the families of those who died, who have lost homes and who are confused by the impact of what they experienced today.  And yet, I thank you for the beautiful day we were able to enjoy today.  I don’t pretend to understand why there and not here, but I know you are present everywhere, holding your children in all our joys and fears.  To you, I give thanks.  Amen.