Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (05/28/3035)

Sunday afternoon I was given a bag of rhubarb and asked to make either a pie or crisp. I smiled and said, “Sure, I can do that.” And then I tried to convince myself for 2 days that I could do that. You see, I didn’t grow up with rhubarb. It isn’t a taste I enjoy. I have never made rhubarb anything. But after two days of checking my fridge crisper drawer hoping the stalks would disappear, I decided that I just needed to strap on my apron and do it.

So, I went to the internet and found a recipe for strawberry rhubarb crisp. I printed it. And then I began. My husband was so excited; he insisted on chopping the stalks himself. I put all the topping ingredients in a bowl. Then, as I was cleaning the strawberries, my husband asked if he could mix the topping using the pastry cutter to cut in the butter. I told him that would be great. Finally, I assembled the crisp, filling on bottom and topping, naturally, on top, dotted that with butter, and popped it in the oven for an hour. When my timer went off, I removed the crisp from the oven and set it on the stove top to cool. Not ever having made strawberry rhubarb crisp or ever having paid any attention to that dish made by others, I had no idea if it looked right or not.

About an hour later, as I was working in my office, I heard dishes rattle and silverware clank. I was pretty sure my husband was into the strawberry rhubarb crisp. I finished what I was working on and then walked out to the kitchen just as he was taking an empty bowl to the sink. I asked, “How was it?” He responded, “Like heaven on a spoon.” And I thought to myself, “All right, then. I can make strawberry rhubarb crisp.”

Life is like that. Sometimes we receive things we didn’t ask for. Sometimes they are good things that can be used for others. Sometimes they necessitate the help of others to deal with them. Allowing others to help us can make the process as well as the end result better for everyone. And allowing love to be the ultimate guide can help on the journey – doing things we don’t necessarily want to do because of our love for another who wants or needs us to do it. Yesterday’s strawberry rhubarb exercise reminded me that loving well can often mean stepping out of one’s comfort zone and tackling needs at hand for another.

Last night, as my husband took out another bowl and helped himself to another serving of strawberry rhubarb crisp, I thought of my day and the lesson I learned. I took a break and went to the porch for some “reflection time.” And I found myself wondering what other things in my life I have been walking around hoping they would disappear like those rhubarb stalks in my frig. I came up with a list. And I realized I would need help, obviously, because I can be quite good at avoidance. So, I prayed to my Savior to send the Spirit to guide me and to grace me with the grace of cooperation that would allow me to deal with that which has been given to me even though I didn’t ask for it. And then I made a list.

Our spiritual journey will have bumps. It will involve surprises. It will necessitate our stepping outside of our desires for the good of or love of another or even for the good of or love of ourselves. We are challenged in those moments, but most especially to determine if we believe the LORD’s promise – “I am with you always.” If we truly believe that – what do we really have to fear?

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.