Almost Perfect Pancakes for Almost Perfect People

Nothing like a blizzard to hit the pause button on life as usual. Because the power stayed on, it's been a blessed break. My nest stayed warm and cozy. So I made Norwegian pancakes for one. That was a first. It was always for two or more, which is what I prefer. Share the joy.

Speaking of JOY, the storm brought me back to snow days, when Heather and Chad were young and school was cancelled due to snow. They jumped for joy. And I made Norwegian pancakes to celebrate. But this time, I made them for me, with memories for company. Good memories are worth celebrating, too.

So, back to breakfast. I added a dash of cardamom to my coffee, as well as to the pancake batter. Mama never did that. But then, she never filled them with fresh blueberries, either. However, don't add the berries to the batter. Makes them squishy, when cooked. So, here's a hint for almost perfect pancakes. After removing the pancake from the pan, spread a little butter, then fresh blueberries. I bought mine Saturday at Shaw's, before the storm hit. The blueberries came from Chile. Bold berries! Now, add some warm maple syrup. Then, roll it up. For the finishing touch, sprinkle a little cardamom infused sugar over the top. Next, pray. Trust me, you'll be thankful. Dig in!

Well, here's the thing, pancakes, like people are never exactly alike. Pancake batter differs, too. Some add more eggs, others more milk and less flour. If your goal is perfection and uniformity, don't bother. True for people, too. Expect surprises. Good ones.

And that's a healthy way to live. DOWN with dread. UP with hope. Well, speaking of hope...last Sunday was the Annual Meeting at church. Hope showed up in reports, a shared meal, hugs, Father Dean Borgman's prayer, Mother Ali's words, (our Bridge Priest), Tom Skinner's thoughtful challenge, respectful listening, but especially in tender hearts. Some of us have lost trust in each other. Others are angry.

But Lent is a perfect time for imperfect people, like me, to took in the mirror, instead of at everyone else. And to trust Jesus to help me uncover what needs healing, forgiving and reconciling. (Thanks, Liesl, for the Lenten readings.) We are unique creations of God. And unique does not mean uniform. So we can expect to live with people who differ from and with us. But to do so with grace, love and kindness. Community can be challenging.

But, like pancakes for one, life's better when shared. I miss the Gray family but trust God to care for them and for us. Mending is God's work, through our hands, plus willing and teachable hearts. We're called to be sacred stitchers. Jesus knows we're broken in both seen and unseen ways.

So back to the meeting. Each family unit received a large wooded spoon, the stirring part shaped like a heart. And along with it, this verse from Hebrews 10:24: "Let us stir up one another to love and good works." It's easy to stir up trouble, but it takes courage, faith and the power of the Holy Spirit to stir up love and to produce good works.

And speaking of good works, Beth, one of my good neighbors, hauled out my trash and recycle bins today, then put the empties back in the garage. I told her, she deserves the gold medal in the good neighbor olympics. Beth also cleared off my car twice this week. So, see why I'm so grateful on this wintry day? While I write about good works, my neighbor, bundled up like an Inuit, does good works. Good neighbors infuse our lives with kindness and joy. Gratitude is the most natural response.

Well, there's a lot to keep us hunkered down. And I'm not just talking about the weather. The State of the Union is not as healthy as projected last night. But the gold medal USA Men's Hockey Team brought most together to cheer. The USA Women's Hockey Team also won gold, but not present, for stated and unstated reasons, I'm sure. But one of the gifts of the Olympics is watching healthy competition and growing friendships between countries. It's a time to celebrate patriotism, not flaunt nationalism.

But, enough about politics. There's a lot more going on in our world, our families and in ourselves. Maybe you're feeling like the cartoon I shared at church last Sunday. One guy says,"I woke up feeling like a million bucks. How about you?" The other answered, "I feel more like insufficient funds."

Me, too, some days. But then I pray, sing or get to work on something that needs doing. Or I remember God has more than enough sufficiency to handle my insufficiencies. Like II Corinthians 12:9 states, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So since Sunday, I've been singing, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus" and "Amazing Grace." And before I know it, hope shows up, sprinkled with joy. It's amazing what just a hint of joy can do. Like just a hint of cardamom in my coffee or Norwegian pancakes...a taste of heaven on earth.

So may you be blessed this day with hints of hope and joy, along with a nudge to "stir up love and good works." You might also try a hint of cardamom in your tea or coffee. Can't hurt. Could help you feel like more than a million bucks. More like $9,542,180.00 in Norwegian krone.

We're rich!!

Rich in all that matters most.

Like ways a little blog post keeps me connected heart to heart with family, friends and those who just stop by for a hint of hope.

Or cardamom.