What’s for dinner?

When I was growing up in the 1980s, my mother started using recipes from vegetarian cookbooks. My mother is an exceptional cook, and many of those meals became family favorites.

A steaming pasta and cauliflower dish with melty cheese was magnificent. There was one recipe that featured macaroni, cooked in a white sauce with jalapeno jack cheese, sprinkled with buttered breadcrumbs, and baked in a large pan. I don’t know what the cookbook called it, but we named it “Treasa’s Casserole,” since it was one of my sister Treasa’s favorites.

Then my mother started experimenting with lentils. Now, I know many people are lentil fans, and I understand that they can be delicious. But I am not sure vegetarian cooking had identified ways to bring flavor to lentils 40-some years ago.

The good news was that an enormous vat of lentil chili lasted days and days and days. The bad news was … well … that it lasted us for days and days and days. It was fine with a little cheese on top, and it was spicy. But you only needed so much to fill you up. It’s amazing how long that pot full of soup lasted for a family of eight. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is still some in the back corner of the fridge.

Then there was the night we arrived at the dinner table to discover lentil burgers on our plates.

Maybe my adult self would enjoy lentil burgers. But my younger self struggled with the crumbly tasteless mass in front of me. There was no condiment that could awaken flavor in that burger or counteract the texture. In fact, “burger” wasn’t even a fair term for that circle of sadness. I could be wrong, but I don’t think my mother made those a second time. Still, the memory is strong.

It’s funny how easily we can remember some of our favorite meals, along with some of the ones we enjoyed the least. No wonder fasting and abstinence are part of Lent. What we choose to eat is so personal and such a part of our everyday life. There is purpose in having to think carefully about our meals – in giving up chocolate or cream in our coffee. It has an impact not just on our individual daily experience, but also in helping us grow closer to Jesus.

Making small sacrifices can invite us to recognize the significance of larger ones. Those everyday encounters can shape our day, give us a gentle reminder to pause in prayer, and help us grow in our faith. How we choose to spend our time each day will define our overall Lenten journey. Jesus will be reaching out to us, and it will be easier if we are listening and looking for him with open minds and hearts.

“As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus’ thirst,” said St. Teresa of Kolkata. “He knows your weakness. He only wants the chance to love you.”

May Lent offer you the opportunity to experience Jesus’ love in a new way. And, as you walk your Lenten journey, know that this season can offer a time to grow closer to God without lentils – unless you personally happen to see them as a sign of Jesus’ love for you.

I’ll be stocking the freezer with fish sticks instead.

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