Refrigerator Soup

There was an article I saw last week written as part of a eulogy for a colleague. What the author remembered about her dear friend was "refrigerator soup." It was the best soup she'd ever tasted and she asked her friend, "What is the recipe? What are the ingredients? How did you cook that?"

The cook smiled and answered with a wave of the hand, "Oh, that's refrigerator soup; I made it with leftovers in my refrigerator." "But this is fabulous!" said her friend. "I want to duplicate this!"

As you might guess, a batch of refrigerator soup cannot be duplicated; each is unique. It is never the same from one cook to the next. That's part of the mystery and challenge of the soup. You need to go with what's in your refrigerator on any given day, to accept those ingredients and work with them. You take their particular combination and make something delicious. It is best when shared and savored with other people.

What a nice image for the church! No occasion can be duplicated; each is unique. Though there are familiar elements (especially in worship), it is never quite the same one Sunday to the next. We go with whoever is gathered, welcoming and affirming each person. And the combination mysteriously yields moments of ministry to be savored and shared with other people.

I am grateful for the wonderful variety of "refrigerator ingredients" in our church family. We have a wonderful recipe for ministry!

With Great Hope,
Rev. Nate

The Spire

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