Cooking, Eugene Peterson, and Looking for the Good in a Global Pandemic

Since mid-March, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives in ways we never would’ve imagined. Some of us have lost loved ones, others have gotten sick and recovered from the virus, been laid off, suffered financial loss, homeschooled antsy children, or had our world turned upside down in a dozen different ways. I don’t know a single person who hasn’t canceled events, postponed plans, and rearranged schedules. Needless to say, the losses have been many, and for some, the suffering has been acute. But as this season lingers on, I’ve been trying to identify ways this unique time in history has ushered in some positive changes. And to be sure, there’s been plenty of good things come to pass. We’ve seen the dedication and resilience of our medical professionals, the ingenuity of the scientific research community, and we’ve watched communities come together for the common good.

On a personal note, I’ve enjoyed a slower pace. Since March, I’ve been working full-time from home, so I’ve gotten back a couple of hours a day that I’d otherwise have spent in traffic. The new schedule has awarded me more time in the kitchen—and it’s been good to have time to cook most of John and I’s meals. I don’t enjoy cooking after a full day in the office and a long commute. But when I’ve got time to tinker in the kitchen and take my time preparing a meal, I love to cook, set the dinner table, and talk about the day’s events over an un-rushed meal with my husband.  In his book, In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan writes, “The shared meal elevates eating from a mechanical process of fueling the body to a ritual of family and community, from the mere animal biology to an act of culture.” Family, community, and culture are all things that must be cultivated and cooking is a way I’ve found to invest in those things.

And, with so much being canceled, I’ve had more time to read. There are some books and authors who warrant a reader’s time and undivided attention. Eugene Peterson is one of those authors. His books aren’t necessarily difficult to read, but they call for a slower and more intentional pace. You’ll get the most out of his work if you read a little and then put it down and think about what you’ve read. And then pick the book back up—read some more—and pause to ponder again. Peterson is an author who has made significant spiritual deposits into my faith walk, so I thought I’d share some of my favorite quotes from a few of his books. Here’s five that I think are pretty special:

• Showing up at church once a week and saying a hearty Amen is a lot easier than engaging in a life of daily prayer and Scripture meditation that develops into concern for poverty and injustice, hunger, and war. – Run With the Horses: The Quest for Life at Its Best.
• Feelings are great liars. If Christians worshipped only when they felt like it, there would be precious little worship. Feelings are important in many areas but completely unreliable in matters of faith. –A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
• There’s nothing, absolutely nothing, that God can’t and doesn’t use to work his salvation and holiness into our lives. –Leap Over A Wall: Earthly Spirituality For Everyday Christians.
• Following Jesus doesn’t take place on our terms. We follow Jesus on his terms. –Tell It Slant: A Conversation On the Language of Jesus in His Stories and Prayers.
• The core message of the gospel is that God invades us with new life, but the setting for this is most often in the ordinariness of our lives. –As Kingfishers Catch Fire: A Conversation On The Ways of God Formed By the Words of God.

None of us anticipated a global pandemic, but in this unique timeframe in history, I hope you’ll take a few minutes and think about how God is bringing about good things that wouldn’t have otherwise happened. What changes in your life do you see for the better? And if this season has slowed your pace, you might consider spending some time reading authors who challenge and encourage you in your faith walk. One way or the other, the time will pass, and while we wait for things to return to a new normal, let’s make the most of the time we have now.