Food preparation - in Romania

How much effort goes into preparing food on a day to day basis? It depends on where you live - and on the kind of food that you prepare. Romania has modern cities and more and more it has all the prepackaged, pre-prepared, just heat it and eat it that is available in the developed countries of the world. If you can afford to buy ready made dinners, then in Romania you can find plenty of grocery stores that will take your money.

However, life in the village is a long way from the modern conveniences available in modern cities. There is something to be learned about what is involved in making food the old fashioned way. Not everyone can do it. But, the hands that tend to such day to day tasks are precious and the foods that arrive on the table are the result of much effort.

During my visit in Romania I had the opportunity to eat some of my favorite Romanian foods. Such is always a treat when I am in Romania and I look forward to the experience. On this last trip I took a few pictures of not only the food that I was served, but also of the hands that made it. Why would this mean anything to you?

When was the last time you noticed the hands of those who work tirelessly to provide you the things necessary to life? From cooking to cleaning, to washing and sweeping, from sun up to sun down and all points in between -- have you noticed lately the hands that labor ceaselessly to make your life easy?

While some have succumbed to the modern shortcuts that save time and effort (not condemning anyone or anything here), others do not have the same possibilities. To have soup involves washing and cutting the vegetables, killing and plucking the chicken (if the soup will have meat), boiling the ingredients and seasoning everything to taste - a process that takes half a day. No opening the can and adding a cup of water; no microwaving a plastic bowl for soup ready in 60 seconds. Just grow the vegetables, harvest them, raise the chicken (or lamb, or whatever) and then combine everything to produce soup the old fashioned way. Bless the hands that can do this... no, bless the hands that DO this day after day.

This process makes me wonder about the processes involved in preparing food for the soul (and I am not referring to hamhocks and turnip greens). What of the hands that prepare the lessons that will save our souls? When was the last time you noticed the hands that fed you "chicken soup for the soul" - if that is the proper way to express it?

Too many who teach the Bible today have succumbed to the junk food approach to feeding the multitudes. Snack lessons that are ready to serve "right out of the box" appeal to many who want the salty or sweet. They taste good and are cheap. Wash it down with a swig of some cheap theological soda pop and you have a meal fit for a.... well, truth is it is not fit for a Christian. But, that is what is being served in so many diners, er churches.

Where is the teacher who will take the time, make the effort, do the work necessary to put together a sound, scriptural lesson that will nourish the hungry spirit of a man? Where are the hands that will tirelessly turn the pages of the Bible in search of material for a sermon that has "substance?"

For those who are in a hurry there is no time to sit down and enjoy the work of such hands. To the man on the go there is a need for a fast-food sandwich of a sermon that can be gobbled down on the way to other, more important concerns. Others say give me something sweet as anything that contains a hard truth will not be well received. No broccoli of truth permitted. Make mine a "doctrinal pudding".

The scriptures refer to the need to progress from the milk of the Word to being able to partake of the meat and potatoes of truth (ok, the Bible does not actually say potatoes). - cf. 1 Peter 2:2 and Hebrews 5:12-14. But, just as one does not ordinarily eat a steak raw, we recognize that there is some preparation involved in getting the meal to the table. Sermons and Bible lessons take time and effort to prepare and those who invest themselves in this work are to be commended.

I enjoy eating mamaliga and sarmale, mititei and friptura. But, more than these I enjoy studying the Bible with those who are hungering and thirsting for the righteousness that comes from God. I appreciate those who can take the raw materials of truth and put together a banquet of truth that will satisfy the soul.

Don't ask me where I am going with this discussion. I do not pretend this is a sermon. No, it is merely a reflection of a few random thoughts I have had and a desire to put another picture on this blog. Indulge me. But, the next time someone brings you a real, homemade chicken dumpling... kiss the hands that prepared it for you. They will appreciate the fact that you noticed them.

alan