Pumpkin Pie Authenticity
The pumpkin pie was fresh from the oven, perfectly browned with a glossy, smooth surface. The smell of cinnamon filled the kitchen with the fragrance of fall. The hours of work poured into this one dessert produced an amazing result that built up a moment of confidence in me. What had been a small, orange pumpkin plucked from the vine that very morning was now a beautiful and tasty treat.
As I paused to admire my creation, I caught a glimpse of all the dishes that had made their way to the sink. My clothes were dusted in flour and sugar, and the kitchen counters were smeared with traces of sticky goo. I glanced at the time. Hours had passed. I had poured time and energy into this one pie out of sheer determination to make my favorite fall treat from scratch.
After a little cleanup, I sat down with a slice of my finished pie on a plate and took a bite. Absolute deliciousness. The fresh flavor of the raw ingredients was like no pie I had ever tasted before. It was so perfect that it ruined my desire for all the other pumpkin pies I have so desperately loved for years. Every fall I crave the taste of pumpkin pie, but nothing satisfies me quite like this made-from-scratch version.
Homemade is special. It’s as if you can taste the hard work it takes to create something from nothing. Love is as much a part of the taste as any other ingredient. The taste is pure and fresh, and it feels good to the soul. Preparing anything this way is rare for many of us these days. The time and effort required to make something from raw ingredients feels overwhelming in our busy schedules. The ease of a microwave, a fast-food chain, or DoorDash delivery fits well into the on-the-go pace so many of us live. The art of pure ingredient cooking is traded for the speed of convenience.
The list of trades we make for convenience often gets lengthy. For instance, we trade phone conversations for texts. Every trade we make has value in product, purpose, and time. Conveniences allow us to find space in our lives. Most trades are good, allowing us to spend more time doing more things while also simplifying the process.
Quiet time, too, often falls on my list of conveniences. I replace reading my Bible for a sound bite or a one-paragraph devotion. Instead of gathering the words of Scripture, I’m grasping for the convenience of what others say about it. Finding enough time to read blog posts and books is good. Reading and listening to theologically sound commentary helps me develop a better understanding of the Word. Catching a glimpse of another woman’s perspective creates a space for me to make personal connections. Time invested in God’s Word is always good.
When we let days and weeks go by without cracking open our own Bibles, however, we’re missing out on something. Reading Scripture for ourselves is like cooking from scratch. Time and effort are required. Love is a must-have ingredient. And the final product is unbelievable.
Daily life requires Jesus. If we have time for a blog post or podcast, it is certainly worth it. But if it stirs in you a desire for more, I encourage you to dive into the Word. Sometimes we can be led by our curiosity straight into something God intends to heal our soul. Reading your Bible as the raw ingredient will open your eyes to exactly what God wants you to hear. It may take a few days, or a few chapters, but God is eagerly waiting to speak straight to your heart through his words.
Make time to sit and explore God’s Word regularly. Don’t let the world of convenience trump your craving for authenticity.
And cook from scratch occasionally too.
loves all things creative. Living in Southwest Ohio with her husband and three children provides plenty of inspiration! Using her love of story, Stacy turns everyday ordinary into an encouraging adventure. With coffee and Jesus, she hopes to shine light into life by finding beauty in the everyday. You can find her at stacydickman.com.
Photograph © Element5 Photos, used with permission
