The Kitchen: Center of the Home
“Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.”
—
In many ways, the kitchen is the center of a home.
The kitchen is the warmest, coziest, and friendliest place in the house. Somehow, we feel at home in the kitchen. It is a place where some of our fondest memories have taken place; where there are traditions we want to keep, savory dishes we want to enjoy, and older family members we want to honor. There are also future cooks and chefs we want to encourage and train.
This time of year, I especially like to cook soups, stews, and chili. These hearty dishes seem to “hit the spot” on a crisp, cool evening. Some good ol’ Southern cornbread goes great with this, too. When our boys were young, this was one of their favorite meals.
Another of my long-standing kitchen endeavors has been a pancake or waffle breakfast on Saturday mornings. I usually fix some flavorful pork sausage or crisp bacon to go along with the meal. Piping hot coffee or a cold glass of milk adds the final touch to this nearly weekly tradition.
It is interesting to note that cooking is not all that goes on in the kitchen. There is the mess to clean up afterward: tables to clear; pots, pans, dishes to wash; and often leftovers to put away.
Sometimes our kitchen would look like the “wreck of the ol’ 97th” or like a tornado had somehow stuck without warning. However, the preparation process and the clean-up to follow are necessary parts of providing a good meal for the family.
In a way, I enjoy the cleanup portion. I have noticed through the years that a lot of good conversation takes place while we’re cleaning the kitchen.
Something about working hand-in-hand together with a family member allows you the opportunity to say things or discuss matters that might be to abrupt or intense to say at the dinner table. One can be honest and authentic with close family without being inappropriate while working side-by-side.
Have you ever noticed that people tend to congregate in the kitchen when family or friends gather for a special occasion?
As preparations for the meal are being made, there is a lot of activity, conversation, and pure joy going on in the kitchen; not to mention that a little early sampling of some of the dishes might take place, too.
Noticing this trend, I had a man once tell me that he built an extra-large kitchen on this dream home for this very purpose: to allow folks plenty of room to gather and talk before they sat down to eat.
I like to think of the church as the “kitchen of the soul.” We meet, we work side-by-side, we eat (or we will again once COVID restrictions allow us to), we visit, we share – all the things one would do in the kitchen at home.
Ideally, the church should be a welcoming, friendly, and inviting place where everyone feels at home, accepted, and a part of the family.
It should also be a place where traditions are honored, older adults are appreciated, and where everyone feels safe to try out new things and mentor young chefs as well. The church should be a place where everyone can be themselves and share honestly with others.
Sure, there will be things to prepare, conversations to be had, and, yes, some messes to clean up. There is work involved!
But the church, as the “kitchen of the soul,” is a great place to demonstrate the love of God and to treat our fellow human beings as family.
So, as we enjoy our kitchens this upcoming holiday season, let's think about all the ways it can and does reflect the bountiful blessings of the Lord through the church.
Bon appetite!
Mark Green
Pastor for Senior Adults & Youth and Children’s Music