1 egg

1/2 C milk

1/4 C vegetable oil . . .

The recipe is ingrained in my brain. It is my mother’s recipe for blueberry muffins.  I make these muffins nearly every day. I get the bowls, spoons, measuring cups and the muffin tins out. I fit colorful paper baking cups in the muffin pans. I get the egg, the milk, the oil, the sugar, the  flour and other dry ingredients out and then find the blueberries in the freezer.  It takes me about 3 minutes to mix and another three to put in the muffin tins. Twenty-three minutes in the oven, and my husband’s favorite food is ready.  The nine muffins might be gone by evening because blueberry muffins are one of only a few foods that he can eat consistently. Other foods bring on nausea or stomach pain or just are unappetizing.

When I started making these muffins, I never dreamed it would become a daily spiritual discipline.  In fact several months ago, I resented having just made a batch and seeing the empty plate at the end of the day.  But soon I  recognized that preparing blueberry muffins for my husband to gobble up had become a ministry, and like all ministries it needed support. It needed, as Dallas Willard often said “VIM” – a vision, intentionality, and means.

Now as I prepare my mind for yet another day of muffin-making, I see the vision: my husband’s  eagerness and ability to eat.  I welcome the intentionality that motivates my routine preparations to bake.  I see these muffins as a means of grace, an offering of a calm and loving spirit given to God.  It is also a service to my husband that is far better than my constant nagging for him eat. I see the discipline of making muffins every day no matter what plans also may fill the day as a daily surrender of my desire to be in control. And the aroma of the freshly baked treats is a symbol of my promise to be the aroma of Christ in my world.

image of muffins from http://www.thedragonskitchen.com