Ready to get those creative juices going and become an introspective chef today?
My nonprofit has allowed all staff to work from home during this pandemic, and it offers weekly R&R sessions for interested employees to connect and process as needed. Today’s session included a reflective activity.
The prompt was “food for the soul,” and each attendee each came up with the recipe title and ingredients that they need for balance and nourishment in daily life.
As a Christ-follower, I appreciated the prompt, which seemed surprisingly Christian — Jesus is the bread of life, and our souls find rest in God alone — though my organization is not faith-based. The language was unintentionally familiar, and it led to several creative responses.
One employee simply listed musical after musical in her ingredient list. Another shared ways they replenish their energy as an introvert. I now present you with my own recipe, “Skye’s Splendid Soup.”
Before I share the recipe, let me just say that this soup is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any time of day. You can adjust the amount of the ingredients based on the flavor desired.
The main ingredient is in this soup is engagement with my dear ones — best friends, family, cousins. This what makes the meal hearty. This is the rice of the splendid soup. You can’t get by without it.
Other ingredients include community and music, which can add a fresh flavor to the soup, much like that of green bell peppers, tomato, red onion, and so forth. My mom taught me to throw in whatever you have and make it beautiful, so the amounts or types may really depend on what’s available that day.
Mix in worship as well. Worship is the stock of the soup. Personally, I use vegetable stock, and there are so many options with that! You could buy it in liquid form, use the flavorful jarred kind, or even make your own!
You could pray over the phone or on your bed, sing along with a band or choir on YouTube or create music, read Scripture, listen to the Lord through meditation or prophecy, fellowship with others (remotely; we’re still in a pandemic), creatively minister to or with others, et cetera. My local Anglican church also uses the Book of Common Prayer as a guide for Scripture reading, prayer, and reflection.
Don’t forget to add in nature! The soup tastes best if you double this ingredient. Since there’s no baseline for the original recipe, just add as much as you can. Trees, walking, hiking, sunshine, tiny purple flowers, more trees and foliage, lilacs, lavender, the lake if it’s safe, et cetera. (Just go with what you have on hand, but always include trees.)
Next, add in heaps of hugs — to taste, but generously. This really seals the soup’s flavor and adds that key healing ingredient for the soul. Hugs are anti-inflammatory and good for both relaxing and feeling loved.
Finally, add a sprinkling of good food. In Skye’s Splendid Soup of Life, a little good food can go a long way. More good food would probably get you further. With this soup, it’s all about abundance.
Skye’s Splendid Soup is best if set in multicultural bowls, with refugees and Congolese friends, and eaten with deeply thoughtful people.
What is your recipe for soul renewal? Share in the comments below! Bon appetit!
katelyn skye bennett 