Gravy, Not Soup
Today’s post is by Kimberly Borin
Recently, I had the good fortune of being on retreat with the Shalem Institute at the Bon Secours Retreat Center. During our retreat we were blessed with beautiful, delicious meals, which often included soup! One day, in the midst of our silent retreat all I could think about was soup. As I got closer to the soup pot, I could see that there was very little soup. In addition, there were no more soup bowls or soup spoons.
I felt defeated but I was determined to have soup! I found one of the caterers and asked for a bowl, and pointed to the soup. She looked at me in an odd way but gladly handed me a bowl. I went back to the line and started ladling bit by bit whatever soup was left in the pot. The ladle made quite a bit of noise scraping the bottom and sides of the pot as I determinedly filled my bowl. I was desperate to get whatever was left.
The person, behind me was quite patient, despite my constant dips of the ladle into the fairly empty pot. She remained serene even with all of the clanking of my soup seeking gestures. After I was done I noticed that she put some of this soup all over her turkey. “Hmmmm, That’s a nice idea,” I thought to myself.
I went back to my table and started eating my salad, eager to eat my soup next. All of a sudden, it occurred to me that perhaps I had desperately ladled myself a whole bowl of gravy, not soup. I quickly dismissed the thought, with a silent “That’s ridiculous,” and a shake of the head. Although I knew that the minute I tried the soup I would realize it was indeed – gravy.
I did try the soup… it was gravy. I was left to eat the remainder of my salad, in silence, while staring at my bowl of gravy. I was on the edge of bursting out laughing and knowing that my friends who had watched me loudly excavate for the soup probably felt the same way.
Current class of Shalem’s Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats Program
The next day, when we came out of silence, I went to my friend who had been standing next to me in line. I said, “Oh, I have to tell you something.” Without hesitation, she said, “Oh, the story about taking a whole bowl of gravy?” “Yes!” I replied. Together we laughed out loud and so did everyone else. From that day forward everyone in line would point out to me, what was gravy and what was soup.
This little bit of mistaken identity struck me in such a way that I could not forget about the incident. In between making me laugh, the metaphor helped me see a deeper lesson.
Were there other things in my life that were only gravy and not nourishing like soup? Were there people, places, things in my life that I was desperately hoping would nourish me, but would not provide what I needed, or what God intended for me?
This beautiful metaphor of gravy not soup, has been nourishing me ever since. In my contemplative practices I have been noticing moments of consolation and desolation. I have also been noticing moments of gravy, not soup. These simple labels have been helping me to see the places that provide the nourishment I need – places God would have me go. I feel so grateful to have this little moment of soup, of silliness, and of story that helps me to choose nourishment on every level in my life.
Dr. Kimberly Borin is a School Counselor, Retreat Leader, and in training to be a Spiritual Director with the Shalem Institute. She believes that we can find peace and grace in simple ways, each moment. She has been a teacher and counselor since 1989 and holds a doctorate in Education, a master degree in Educational Leadership and one in School Counseling. She is an Ananda Yoga Teacher for adults and children and the author of the Laughter Salad series of books. You can learn more about Kimberly at: www.TheEncouragingWorks.com.
