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Finding joy in the activities we dread

Cooking.

I have never particularly enjoyed it, and never been particularly good at it.

I can follow a recipe, I can make some basic foods out of my head, but otherwise it is not a pastime I particularly enjoy.

But, seeing as I am only 26, and barring some unforeseen incident or the Lord returning I have a lifetime of meals ahead of me, I decided it was about time to enjoy this process I was going to be doing a lot of.

So the last few weeks I have been more intentional with cooking.

I started watching some cooking shows, I watched some cooking basics on Youtube (see my recommended video below), and began implementing some of the tips and have been trying out some new recipes.

Is it now my favourite hobby? No.

But I must say, a little bit of knowledge and intention goes a long way –  it is already more enjoyable than it was. Instead of suffering through it like I was, I am actively choosing to think about what I am doing, taking my time and trying to learn. 

Cooking and Spiritual Disciplines

Jon and I talk a lot about “spiritual disciplines” on Theophilus. These are practices like Sabbath, prayer, silence and Bible reading that can help shape our relationship with Jesus.

They are not Jesus himself, but they can draw us closer to Him.

These disciplines, though — are to some extent comparable to cooking – they are a skill to be learned. In the beginning, it is not easy to take to sit in silence, pray, or to read your Bible consistently. It is awkward, a bit difficult, and not intuitive.

And that can lead to frustration and just “suffering” through it – doing it everyday not because you want to, but because you have to – a bit like me with cooking.

But, as I am starting to find out, there can be a lot of joy in activities I never thought possible – activities I thought were not for “me.”

So, if you are suffering through your spiritual disciplines – reading the Bible because you feel a sense of duty to, praying because you have to, I encourage you to take a moment to step back.

This was never meant to be a duty, it was meant to be a joy.

Try re-evaluating your approach, listen to some preachers you enjoy on YouTube, and don’t rush through it , but take your time. 

And perhaps – just like me and cooking – you will begin to find the joy hidden in it.

Be Blessed,

Aaron

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