all the more tender

every time i'm in the kitchen lately for some reason this phrase keeps going through my mind, "things keep cooking long after they're heated". as far as i can tell it's nothing i read or even consciously was thinking about. it's just there when i'm stirring or simmering, reminding me that less is more. when i'm in a hurry, i forget this and put something back in the oven hurriedly or zap it again in the microwave. it tends to dry out or become overdone. but when i'm patient, i simply remove food from the heat source and put a lid on it for a while, allowing time for it to finish cooking from the inside-out. it turns out perfectly! it's no surprise that the most tender meats, for example, are marinated for a minimum of 24 hours and baked slowly at a lower temperature. i remember the best Thanksgiving turkey i ever had was my cousin Gloria's. she's from south america and knows how to take her time. the meat was perfectly basted with olive oil, rosemary, sage, and thyme; moist and tender like i've never tasted before. it's like that with any meaningful practice in our lives, too. i find myself grateful that God is patient enough with me to take things deeply and slowly--as He does with things that really matter--baking me and you, if you will, in His love mercifully at a lower temperature so we can handle it and for often a longer time than we might have thought of. but, once you taste the dish there's no going back, you never want to rush the process again! even 10 minutes a day of mindful awareness/breath prayers is known to change brain chemistry for the better, calm the body and bring perspective. just 10 minutes!? worries dissipate, gratitude comes to the surface, the heart stays soft and seasoned in spite of or even because of the challenging opportunities of the day. things that used to dry me out or overdo me fall away and i am left all the more tender. because things keep cooking long after they're heated.