The first time I baked my own bread, I was quite nervous. I was sure something would go wrong.
But somehow the flour didn’t rebel, and the yeast worked its magic. By day’s end, I was munching on succulent slices slathered in butter, right from the oven.
And over the years, I’ve realized that the humble act of baking bread can teach surprising lessons.
For one, bread calls you back to the basics. All you need are flour, water, yeast, a dollop of honey and salt. From these ingredients you can make crusty Italian bread that will outshine anything you buy in the store.
These ingredients underscore how much we rely on God’s providence. The wheat needed rain and sun to grow. The honey comes from bees, and the yeast itself is a tiny plant.
At heart, baking bread really is fairly simple, even though some folks complicate it.
They buy bread machines, for example, contraptions that make me cringe. You see, relying on machines overlooks another big spiritual advantage of making bread. Kneading dough -- by hand -- can help quiet your mind.
Like other repetitive activities – think of knitting or pushing babies on swings at the playground -- kneading can actually become a form of prayer.
Bread also teaches us about mercy. In my case, there are always some flaws in the finished product -- a hole here, a lopsided crust there—but still the loaves are nourishing and delicious.
And in an odd way, crooked and pockmarked loaves can symbolize our sins. They remind us that despite our brokenness, despite our failures to rise to various occasions, God will forgive us.
At one point, Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them to pray. He then shaped a prayer that is so simple and yet so perfect. In that prayer is mentioned one perfectly simple food: “Give us this day our daily bread.”
The prayer teaches us to keep our eyes on today. This doesn’t mean to stop planning, but rather to start trusting that no matter what tomorrow brings, with God’s grace we can handle it.
Our daily needs really are simple, even if our longings at times are complicated. In fact, many people never eat three-course meals in fancy restaurants. Instead, their hunger is sated by a loaf of bread, a bowl of rice -- and they are grateful.
As I knead the dough in my quiet kitchen, a prayer often emerges in my heart. Thank you, Father, for giving me what I need each day. Thank you for loving me, flaws and all. And help me take care of those who go without bread today. Amen.
Lorraine’s latest book is “Death of a Liturgist,” a fun-filled mystery set in Decatur. She also is the author of “Death in the Choir” and five other books, available at www.lorrainevmurray.com Her email address is lorrainevmurray@yahoo.com
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