Musing. . . about the Right Conditions
I’ve always loved to bake. These days, I do it less often than I used to ~ my weight and cholesterol count have crept up a bit, and I have less time. However, the kids enjoy the process, and we all enjoy the product, so we pull out the flour, sugar, butter and eggs whenever there’s a party to attend or dinner guest to feed.
One of my specialties is oatmeal chocolate chip squares. I mixed up a double batch of dough a couple of weeks ago, baked half for an event the following day and froze the rest for an upcoming family barbeque. The night before the barbeque, I moved the dough from the freezer to the refrigerator. The next morning, I turned on the oven to preheat and tried to spread the dough in the baking pan. Although it had thawed, it was stiff and sticky. I set the pan, with the cold dough in it, on the stovetop and let the heat from the warming oven soften it. By the time the oven was hot, the dough was easy to spread.
So, what’s this got to do with anything? My struggle and eventual success with the dough reminded me of a life’s lesson. Sometimes, we know what we want to do and when we want to do it, yet discover we must wait for the Right Conditions to come about. We have to be Patient (as Waith so often reminds us!). At other times, even if we can force conditions to be right ~ or close enough ~ we would be better off letting them come about in their own good time. Fortunately, while we wait ~ because we must, or because we choose to ~ we can cultivate, so that when the conditions are right, our plans will go more smoothly and, perhaps, yield better results than if we had not Waited and Cultivated.
I could have continued to struggle with the cold dough, got it sort of evenly spread in the pan, and ~ in frustration ~ shoved it in the oven to bake. However, waiting for the heat from the warming oven to soften the dough allowed me to spread it easily and evenly, which improved my results. So, the next time it feels like my plans are stalled or that my efforts are fruitless, I’ll try to visualize the warmth of the oven, the feel of the soft dough spreading under the spatula, and the aroma and taste of those warm oatmeal chocolate chip squares fresh out of the oven ~ in their own good time.
Posted in -Allard, Contributing Writers | September 16, 2006
September 16th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
I enjoyed reading your article. And I always say, be still and know.When it is time, it will be time. Y ou may use this quote.
I just pulled it out of the hat. Things happen when they are suppose to. For a long time I have wanted to come to Virginia Beach, VA. and in all of my travels I did not make it. It was time for me to see VB. I am still here. I have made some new friends and am welcomed by all of the family. The daughter told
her mother that it is would be fine with her if I stayed forever.
I will be back because I am leaving my trailer here until my
vacation in Atlantic City is over the first of Oct.
Thanks,
BABBETTE
n
September 18th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
Allard, your analogy is wonderful and I will remember it when those moments come where I am trying to “force” something ~ which does happen to all of us at some time!
September 19th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
I go the other way sometimes, though, and spend so much time waiting for the right conditions, waiting for Prince Charming, waiting for enough money, the right this, the right that! Whoops, sorry! I like the word cultivating better! Thanks Allard! Now, when someone says to me, “What are you waiting for?” I will reply, “I’m not waiting, I’m cultivating!”
October 6th, 2006 at 7:05 am
What a yummy metaphor!!! I love your writing.