lessons from baking bread
I am learning to bake bread.
The process begins.
I measure the flour, the water, the leaven that has been fermenting, passed along by my daughter.
She is now the one teaching me.
She is the one coaching me through the steps of sourdough bread baking.
Over facetime and texts she directs my steps.
Timing is everything she says.
Timing to prepare the ingredients.
To stretch the dough.
To give time for it to rest.
To give time for it to rise.
I listen to my daughter, musing how the life lessons I have been sharing with her echo in the steps of bread baking she is teaching me.
Perhaps that is why Jesus chose to say:
I am the bread of life.
He knew we connect to the simple joy of fresh baked bread from the hearth
of the smell and taste and pleasure of tearing the bread and placing it in the mouth
the satisfaction and pleasure of the bread in the body and soul.
Even in the preparing of the bread
the measuring
the kneading
the working of the dough in the hands to create just the right texture
the preparation of the bread enhances the satisfaction of taking it in
the folding of the bread is part of the process
the stretching of the dough to increase the gluten
to increase its capacity to hold flavor and heighten texture
so it is in the reading of the word
of meditating
of glancing at the words
of allowing the words to mingle with spirit to open the eyes and heart to understanding of the truth these words unfold
After the preparation I score the dough and place in the covered pot to bake.
I remove the lid,
it is a feast for all the senses
the rich golden color
the firm crispy crust
the soft interior rises with steam as it is broken
Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good
how happy is the person who takes refuge in him
When we linger and meditate on God’s word, we gain just a taste of him, a taste that increases a desire to know more, to consume more.
This taste is just a glimpse of the fulness of knowing him, of delighting in him.
This taste feeds our wonder of heaven.
This taste feeds our anticipation of heaven.
This taste feeds our longing for heaven.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
The word taste in Hebrew, taam, means to perceive, eat. Try the flavor.
The Lord desires once we get a taste of him, the flavor of him will satisfy our souls.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Take a bite of that warm, fresh bread out of the oven.
Allow its scent, its warmth, its flavor, its texture to satisfy your soul.
He is the bread of life.
He is the one who brings fullness to our soul.
His word is our refuge, our safe place, our hope.
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