It’s a Casserole

Fall is finally here in all its glory! It is my absolute favorite season without question!  As L.M. Montgomery says, “I am so glad I live in a world of Octobers” (and Novembers!!) There are so many beautiful things to love during this season!

 I love the leaves, golden, orange and red and the way bits of sun make them glow; the crisp morning air, and the whisper of frost that coats the grass like crystalline sugar.

I love acorns with their checkered caps, horse- chestnuts, half split from their prickly shells, steel blue skies mingled with grey clouds and the silhouette of geese passing by.

I love the curls of smoke that rise out of chimneys in the early morning smelling like hickory and dried leaves and the sound of leaves crunching beneath my boots.

I love warm blankets and fuzzy socks and low hum of the heat coming on as I curl up under the fluffy down comforter.

I love seeing squirrels as they leap across the yard collecting nuts with their fluffy tweed-colored tails behind them.

I love the quiet hiss of the fire licking up the window of our wood stove, my soft knit sweater and faded leather Birkenstocks.

I love stacks of bumpy pumpkins and the way the mums smell.

I love piles of speckled, knobby, orange and mustard-yellow gourds and the crunch of crisp, tart apples.

I love all these things but what would fall be without the food? Ah! There is nothing like comfort food on crisp November evenings; spicy beef chilly bubbling in the crock pot, pumpkin bread fresh out of the oven, moist and delicious, warm apple pie with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and gooey casseroles with toasty bread crumb toppings, filling the house with the delicious smells and feels of home.

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Speaking of casseroles, God has been showing me a thing or two about these delicious conglomerations. Not about how to make them but, how our lives are like them.  I know it sounds crazy but hear me out.

I was really worked up about something the other day. Plans that I had thought would come to fruition were just not working out. After much prayer and a long time of waiting nothing seemed to be happening. My discouragement and disappointment had turned to heartbreak. So, I poured it out to God in the car as I often do. Fussing at him I said, “But God why is this not working out? Isn’t this what you want too? Why aren’t you doing anything God? Don’t you see what is going on?”

After I got out all my words and my woes, I quieted. And then, the strangest thought came to mind. Maybe it was because I was hungry, or the fall feels had set in but the thought came, “It’s like a casserole…“ And so, I pondered.

The more I thought about it, I could see that this situation was indeed like a casserole baking in the oven. You see, I was discouraged because I was looking at the situation like it was finished. God was showing me things are still in process and the situation is cooking along quite well. He made it clear to me that He knows what He is doing and has got it all under control.

You see, we can’t evaluate something or decide if it’s good until it’s done. Of course, it doesn’t look good right now because it’s in process. God was suggesting that I trust that He has got this figured out and that in His view, it is coming along nicely.  I just need to hang tight and wait for the good that is on its way.

This thought gave me great comfort. Instead of tight fisting the matter or giving up on it completely, God was asking me to accept a new view. He was asking me to see the situation for what it is, and it is in the middle. Middle moments can be wrought with anxiety and a sense being out of control. The outcome is unknown and that is uncomfortable. 

We often attempt to change things that we just can’t leaving us frustrated and tired. When we surrender and give up our rights to know how the situation will turn out we can rest. We can open our hands to accept an outcome we may never have thought of; an outcome that could be potentially more beautiful and richer than we could have ever dreamt.

When I am overcome by what I don’t know, it helps to list things I do know. And I do know the One who made the casserole and knows how long it is to bake. He knows when it is finished.

We know that the Bible says God is good, and that He is on our side. He is protective and kind and will never lead us wrong. He will never deceive or lie and He can be completely trusted. God’s love for us is deep and high and wide.

I am still waiting for things in my situation to turn around and still can’t see or understand all that is going on, but remembering that it is like a casserole has helped me to let go of my coveted outcome. There are lots of things baked in and this dish will be amazing when it is finished.  Turning my eyes from my idea of the perfect picture to gazing on the perfect Creator has been life giving.

So, as we head toward the holidays, and cozy into shorter days and chilly nights, let us remember He is at work cooking up something grand. He made up the recipe, and He has the plan. Our job is to rest in His most capable hands.