Today’s find: Egg-stasy

I saw it happen, right before my eyes: an unassuming hard-boiled egg became filet mignon.

Sizzling pan-seared filet, smothered in peppercorn sauce. A delight to the gustatory senses, a moment to be savored before all too quickly it would gone.

The eggs were the star of the show, for sure. But our Kairos Inside brothers took delight in the fresh veggies we served as well – carrots, celery sticks, broccoli florets, bell peppers, along with a generous helping of ranch dressing to dip them in.

Simple foods. ‘Take-it-for-granted” fare. Certainly nothing worthy of a blog post. Unless, of course, you haven’t eaten a hard-boiled egg in 20 or 30 years. Then it becomes the stuff of miracles, an occasion for egg-stasy.

I don’t think I’m overselling this encounter. Even a week later, it warms my heart to recall the wonder I saw on the faces of the men at my table as the egg tray was passed around. It was a new experience for me, because I was serving on team for a Missouri prison – the ERDCC* in Bonne Terre. Typically I go to a facility in southern Illinois. 

The two prisons aren’t far removed from each other – just 60 miles apart. But different states, different rules: In Illinois, we treat our brothers to homemade cookies. In Missouri, “homemade” is not allowed…so the Kairos participants feast on eggs and veggies instead, all prepared by a commercial-grade kitchen staff in town.

The details may be different, but the impact is the same: When the Kairos team comes, the inside guys are going to get a taste of God’s unending love for them. When the snacks appear, it’s like the men are hearing this promise directly from the mouth of the prophet Isaiah:

No more shall people call you “Forsaken,” or your land “Desolate,“
but you shall be called “My Delight”…

Their hearts are warmed, and many are moved to take a step or two closer to God. And my heart is warmed, as well. How could it not be? After all, I get to see something like a miracle happen: an egg morphing into filet mignon. 

Water turned into wine.

*ERDCC: Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center.

Let us pause now…to recall that we are in the presence of the Holy & Merciful One.

IHS