An Introduction
/In the book “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” the characters in Narnia have been suffering from an endless winter with no Christmas (sound familiar?) under the wicked spell of the White Witch. But the great lion Aslan returns to the cursed world and begins to push back the reign of death and cold. In one particularly powerful scene, the White Witch comes upon a group of friends feasting in the woods, as drips of snow begin to melt from the trees. The White Witch considers this meal of celebration an act of war. And isn’t that the case? To make a meal, considering the state of the world, is to declare with the produce of the ground that death doesn’t rule. Setting a table is to advance against the enemies of despair and lethargy. So this Winter, let’s nourish one another.
In times of anxiety or stress, we often think “the last thing I need to do is make an effort to do anything.” This often means doing as little as possible to feed ourselves. Enter take-out and instant meals. And honestly, some days, that’s seriously okay. But the basic premise of that thought can be flawed. What if when we are anxious or stressed out, our bodies need nourishing food even more? What if the act of putting forth effort will change everything. Whether you are cooking for a table full of (sometimes grateful) people or cooking for yourself, making food with love is an act of rebellion against decay.
As our own Brook Talsma says, we should “embrace the process as meaningful and not a means to an end.” So chop those veggies with a grateful heart. Pay attention to how the aromatics make your fingers smell earthy. Feed your body good food to remind it that God is on the throne and He made good things. And if you have extra, take it to someone who could use a reminder that Winter isn’t forever.
Below you will find recipes from people here at Grace Chapel. These recipes represent beautiful things like family and tradition and tables with people at them. Let this be a jumping off point for your own courageous acts of war. And if you want to have a little more fun, make these recipes with someone else that you can video call while you chop and prep.