The Sermons from the Stove series are sermons, inspirations, and insights ChaotishRabe gained while cooking in his kitchen at home.
I think a natural progression for anyone that cooks or bake, is to eventually attempt to bake bread. I didn’t know a whole lot about baking in general other than it was a popular hobby a half decade ago. I remembered seeing a certain brand of “bread” flour at my grocery store, which led me to frequenting their site for recipes. Eventually I landed on a bread recipe that I wanted to attempt: “Everyday Whole Grain Bread”.
Now folks, any recipe you find online often has some sort of long exposition of what this recipe means to the person. It could be a generational recipe or some sort of emotional story. If you are a lot like me, you often hit that “skip to recipe” button or immediately scroll down to find the ACTUAL recipe. However, this particular recipe captured my attention (pretty easy, it was two short paragraphs) and what it had written has stuck with me ever since. The last paragraph says this:
“The recipe makes two loaves - we suggest you enjoy one, and share the other. Bake for good!”
Makes sense, right? I eat a lot of bread, but I probably won’t be able to enjoy the other one quickly enough before it gets stale (Maybe you can, I’m not here to judge.). Even further, if I’m already making something, how much MORE effort would it be to double the recipe? Have a recipe that makes two dozen cookies? Keep a dozen for yourself and give the other dozen to someone else. Go surprise your coworkers and/or other chosen unit of society.
This wisdom doesn’t have to be applied to baking. Making a bracelet or other crafted goods? Make one more to give to someone else. Picking up something at the convenience store? Get what you came for, and pick up a bottle of water to give to a stranger that may need it. (and in Dallas, there are plenty right now this summer). Why do this?
Well, in A Meditation for Jedi, it tells us that it is in giving that we receive. How? Well the answer lies a bit further on in the doctrine. The 15th maxim tells us:
“Charity is love in action. We live on what we are given but BUILD OUR LIVES ON WHAT WE GIVE.”
As I look around, I see what has been given to me by the charity of others. The tangible gifts are pretty easy to identify, but they don’t compare to the patience, love, ideas, and teachings that I’ve received from others (including many of you who read this now)
What an excellent opportunity to practice our universal compassion in such small stake ways that equate to the “Round to the nearest dollar”. Jedi, I challenge you to find those small ways to give to others, even if it’s only your time. Bake for Good!
