This morning, I am making pancakes for breakfast. After I got the coffee going, I melted some butter in a pan, then added a cup of fresh blueberries, some maple syrup and set the pan on the stove at a slow simmer. I went about a few more morning tasks then turned off the stove and let the butter, blueberries and maple syrup get to know each other. Later, I will turn the heat back on when the pancakes are ready and pour the beautiful salty butter, sweet maple syrup and tart blueberry goodness over a plate of pancakes and Jan and I will have our breakfast.

I learn a lot about life from cooking. The information I just shared about preparing the syrup for our pancakes is something a lot of us need to learn when we interact with each other. We all have ingredients to add to the conversations and cultural interactions we think are so important.  Unfortunately, many times, we think our take on life is the most essential ingredient. Our standalone ingredient has value, but only when added to the input and considerations of others. When we allow a merging and blending of thoughts and ideas, the end product will become something truly delicious intellectually and spiritually. It will invite others to the table of conversation.

To create this inviting syrup of life, we need to do more of what I did when I brought together the butter, blueberries, and maple syrup. Before we prematurely serve our opinion, we need to bring it all together and gently warm the contents under the influence of the Spirit. This allows all the ingredients of the conversation to merge into something that reflects the expansive heart of God instead of a separate and many times ill-informed ingredient of a singular opinion.

“We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete” (I Corinthians 13:9 MSG).