Start with the flesh.
Crucify it.
Bury it.
Now, boil it.
Extract everything possible from its flesh and bones.
Strain out all that is impure.
Smell righteousness and redemption
gold, silver, precious stones
Made alive by fire.
Add the forgotten flesh,
Sacrificed,
Resurrected,
Baptised,
Risen to swim in newness of life.
Watch it fellowship with the
Bitter herbs and time.
The world will seap in
Be careful.
It’s a blessing and a curse:
Too little, and there is no spice;
Too much, and it hurts.
Be ye patient, be ye gentle,
Be ye kind
Now,
Share this gift with those you love.
Fill them
Strengthen them
Encourage them
Love them
Again.
Black Bean Chicken Soup
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. -I Corinthians 3:13
5 cooked chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 32 oz. cartons chicken broth, or, better yet, the strained broth your grandma taught you how to make.
2-3 stalks very fresh celery, chopped
1 medium Vidalia onion, chopped (Go ahead and add in the tears, too.)
6-8 sliced baby portabella mushrooms
1 can black beans
1 can original Rotel tomatoes (Don’t get the mild. That defeats the whole purpose of the Rotels. Don’t get the Habanero ones, either. People will cry.)
A good fundamentalist buys these by the pallet.
1 can Cream of Mushroom and Garlic soup (Very worldly. Very bad. But, like a good movie, it just makes some things better.)
Juice of one lime
Several torn leaves of cilantro
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
Salt, Pepper, and Tony’s to taste
Straight from God's spice rack
Simmer all day on low in the crock pot. To serve, add a few crumbled tortilla chips to the soup. Enjoy with the ones you love.