The Next Level

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”— Psalm 25:4-5

My eighteen-year-old son has decided to take a cooking class.

Now that he is an adult, I’ve impressed upon him the idea that he needs to learn to cook beyond Kraft Mac and Cheese, canned soup, ramen noodles, and quesadillas. What’s funny is that when he has to cook, he can. He and a friend made a special dinner for his friend’s girlfriend a few months ago. They picked a few gourmet recipes, and I smiled to myself as my son came home after the preparations (which included chocolate mousse from scratch, a salad that involved pomegranates, and salmon) sharing how impressed his friend’s parents were at his abilities to wield a chef’s knife, work on a stove, and peel a pomegranate. Things he had picked up from just watching me.

I am excited he is learning from the chef I had as an instructor a few years ago. I remember showing up for “How to Boil Water” and spending 2 days with this chef and several other people. We chopped, braised, boiled, baked, sautéd, and cooked what felt like enough food for 2-3 Thanksgiving dinners. I came home with tons of recipes and an inspiration to take my cooking to the next level. Through jokes, storytelling, and pure passion, this chef had us whipped up into a frenzy of excitement and activity. You couldn’t wait to get over a hot burner or chop up an onion. His gregarious personality fueled us all and pushed us to discover something about ourselves: we could, in fact, cook Really. Good. Food.

Those are the signs of a great teacher—passion, excitement, and the desire to teach and reach hearts. I think of that when I read of Jesus’ ministry and the fact crowds followed Him around to listen to His teaching. They stayed close to Him, hoping to hear a tidbit that would change their lives, and they did. He used stories they could understand (parables), spoke with passion, and invited them to follow Him. What an example for us all!

Jesus came into this world to teach us and reach us. Where do you sense His passion in your life? Where might He be trying to teach you something? How might it change you? And…how might you jump in with gusto and take your faith to “the next level”?

Prayer–“Gracious Lord, you have so much to teach me. Make me an avid learner, one who is open to your compassion and instruction. Show me new things today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”