Artichokes

My first time trying an artichoke was in Kawaii, and it was absolutely amazing. The restaurant said they marinated it for over 24 hours in a balsamic vinaigrette and served it with melted butter. It was just incredible. And when I think of my time in Hawaii, I think of the beautiful scenery and this artichoke. Seriously. It was just that good.

And it recently got me thinking, life’s journeys are like an artichoke. You have to take it piece by piece to get to the best part.

I had the unfortunate privilege of being publicly and verbally abused in the workplace several years ago. It was vicious. Vicious in the sort of way only a woman can tear down another woman.

It brought about anxiety, for multiple reasons, and honestly, it was humiliating.

As I sat at home sipping some herbal tea to try and calm my nerves the next day, I couldn’t help but wonder, why God? Why did you bring me here? For this? To be abused? To be verbally beaten up? To be judged unfairly? Why?

Now, I knew I was supposed to be at this job. I can’t explain it. I just knew this was where I was supposed to be, and God had not given me a new assignment yet. I prayed. I tried to move mountains on my own. Each time, my plans were stopped. And I kept asking God to please let me move on, but it was clear that I needed to learn something here.

When I first started at this place, I instantly bonded with an older gentleman, whom we’ll call Bob. Bob was around my grandpa’s age, and we would just chat about anything from life goals and family to politics and religion. I loved talking with him. We could joke and laugh, and Bob made life at this place doable.

But you see, Bob and I shared one intense passion: writing. We talked about his book he was writing, my ideas for all the books I wanted to write, writing tips, information, and facts; almost daily, we shared our passion for writing.

There was a book I started when I graduated from college many moons ago. It began as a fun project; a way to channel my energy and emotions from a relationship that had ended just horribly. And this book became my escape. Over time, I added to it here and there, but never really completed it. But when I met Bob, he inspired me to finish this book. His inspiration in the midst of my anguish is why you’re reading this today.

Think of every journey in life as an artichoke.

The challenges I had to go through at this job were many, but re-igniting my passion for writing was always at the core of my “job artichoke”.

Bob helped me realize that, but God ALWAYS knew that.

You see, God knows what you’re working towards even when you don’t. He knows what’s hidden under those layers. All we see is the outside. We know the work. We wonder how long this will last and when it will end.

God sees who we’ll be when we arrive, and that’s what He cares about. Because He needs you. He has a plan for your life, and you can’t live in your calling if you aren’t willing to deal with the less enjoyable aspects of life.

No matter what you had to go through, the best part of the artichoke was always there. The heart was always there. We just need to make the time to discover the purpose beneath life's layers and challenges.

Also, learn to recognize your “Bob”. Bob looks different to everyone, but when you realize you’re not alone in this chaos, you’ll be reminded that God loves you that much.

Moses had Aaron.

Ruth had Naomi.

Esther had Mordecai.

I had Bob.

So today, if you’re facing that unbelievably hard challenge, remember to deal with life piece by piece. Because you are working towards something. There is a reward. This will be worth it. This will work out for your good. This does have a happy ending. And there will be something delicious waiting for you after your hard work.

And when you look back, the pieces you had to deal with, the hard stuff, will be thrown away, and it won’t matter because you’ll believe the juice was worth the squeeze.

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