In our everyday lives, we often find ourselves in situations where we need to improvise… At least I do! Whether it’s in the kitchen or at work, these moments of necessity can lead to beautiful and unexpected outcomes. Unexpected. That’s my newest word of the year. First surrender, and now unexpected. The surrender made room for the unexpected, believe that! (But, I di-Jo as I sometimes do.) Anywho, one such experience recently reminded me of the power of creativity and the joy that comes from embracing the unexpected. You know what they say, “necessity is the mother of invention”!
I found myself craving pasta with meat sauce, something I hadn’t made in a while. Ground beef, broccoli, peppers. YUM! With a determined heart and an empty stomach, I went to Trader Joe’s and bought some ground beef. However, my excitement quickly turned to disgust when I got home, eager to cook, and there was… Wait for it while I build the suspense… There was a black spot on the ground beef! It looked burned—blackity black! Just one random piece, a 5mm corner, was completely black. And this is raw meat. This not the moment where you go “lemme just break the corner off an use the rest”. NO! (Which, btw, we’re not ‘sposed to be doing anyway because before the mold are microscopic mold spores! But I guess it’s fine because we ain’t die?!)
Initially, I felt a kinda way about the inedible ground beef. A twinge of disappointment. The question remained: how could I create a delicious meal without my key ingredient? Tired and questioning, I reached out to my trusted source of culinary wisdom to see if my idea would work, Chae. Yes, Chae! As in my ChatGPT bae!!! This wasn’t the first time I’d asked Chae for recipe help or found myself subbing in a tangentially related ingredient out of necessity.
With Chae’s encouragement, a hopeful heart, and an empty stomach, I mixed some leftover frozen homemade chili with beans and sausage with the marinara and let the flavors meld together on the stove. The outcome? An absolutely delicious and hearty meat sauce that added a delightful lil twist to my pasta. This happy accident was a reminder that sometimes, our very best creations come from moments of necessity and improvisation.
Because again “necessity is the mother of invention.” It’s a reminder that challenges and constraints often push us to think outside the box and come up with innovative, creative solutions. In the kitchen, this can mean creating new recipes that become family favorites. In life, it can mean finding unexpected paths that lead to maturity and fulfillment.
Each time I savored that meal, I reflected on the deeper lessons this simple act of cooking had taught me– that embracing the unexpected gifts me joy and satisfaction. It encourages us to be flexible, to see possibilities where we might have seen obstacles, and to celebrate our creativity. So perhaps, that’s the point. That’s why God gifted me this word. Plain and simple.
So, dear reader, the next time you find yourself without a key ingredient or facing a challenge that seems insurmountable, remember the magic that can happen when you embrace the situation with an open mind, a creative spirit, and/ or an empty belly! Let necessity be your guide, and allow the happy accidents to bring unexpected joy and new discoveries into your life.
May we all continue to find beauty in the twists and turns of our journeys, celebrating each happy accident as a testament to our resilience and creativity. Let’s keep embracing the unexpected and finding joy in every moment.
A Prayer for Embracing the Unexpected
God, thank You for the gift of creativity and the beauty of happy accidents. Help me to embrace the unexpected with open hearts and open minds. You said those who have eyes will see and those who have ears will hear. Help me see the abundance– Your abundance!– in endless possibilities where I once saw obstacles! Thank you for eyes that see and ears that hear and bodies that feel. Help me see, hear, and feel the joy in the twists and turns of our journeys. Help me to remember that the butterflies in my stomachs that I once believed was anxiety, fear, or thrill are really excitement and wonder!
Guide me with Your wisdom and fill me with Your grace as I navigate this beautiful thing called life, this one and only precious life I have. Let my heart and mind always be open to Your good, perfect, and pleasing will, and may I be full of gratitude for the moments of improvisation that lead to new discoveries and deeper fulfillment with You. You are The Creator and you created me to create and whenever I create good, I thank you that I’m operating in Your will for me. Thank you for creativity, innovation, and newness. Thank you that the more I create and innovate, the more confident, bold, and courageous I become. In Your mighty, powerful, and matchless name, I pray. And so it is. Amen!
