Enoch – Then & Now

I have a cast iron skillet – my original one, actually. I have named it Enoch. You will learn why, if you read this post.

I enjoy cooking. Love it, in fact. Several years ago, I read about cast iron and decided to give it a whirl. Amazon to the rescue.

A large skillet arrived, weighing approximately the same as a bowling ball. It was “pre-seasoned.” Black, glossy and ready for action.

Please bear with me as I report my own sacrilege.

The skillet was used – not remembering on what was created during the maiden voyage.

Not knowing better, I used Dawn, a scrubbing sponge and sometimes a stiff brush to clean the poor skillet. It took its drubbings silently, becoming greyer and more scarred with each passing use. Yes, I thought I was taking care of it – and would attempt to rub some oil into the pan afterward. Imagine it, if you will – if it was vocal, it would have moaned.

Months went by. It was on top of my stove. Brad was over…walked to the stove and quietly asked, “You want to tell me what happened here?” No derision. No humiliation. Curiosity on what cataclysmic circumstances had happened to the unarmed skillet. Thankfully, Brad coached me and even carefully restored the pan to pre-seasoned, black, glossy splendor. Thus, the name, “Enoch” – because that pan has seen things. Yes. He truly has.

Which brings the whole circle to humans – me, and maybe even you.

What have we experienced in our lives that may have scrubbed the daylights out of us? Maybe well-intentioned. Maybe even innocently. The power sander of life taking off the rough edges and the plain…

What if what we are supposed to be – or do – is different than the path we have taken? What if the circumstances we choose are removing our essence and we need to engage in a different sort of care? I used Dawn, because that was my normal method. Cast iron should not be scrubbed with Dawn. Maybe you shouldn’t be doused with what may be eroding you, either. Maybe it’s time to evaluate the methods we simply “accept”.

Let’s take advisement from Brad’s simple – “You want to tell me what happened here?” No judgement. Just choosing better. Because after all – we are more than a pan.

“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Isa. 49:16 NIV

♥ Rose