Don’t you hate it when someone tells you, “Troubles produce endurance”?
I want to stomp my foot, clench my fists and yell. I don’t want endurance. I want my
weasel-y troubles to roll over, four stiff legs in the air with big Xs on its dilemma-like eyes.
I want comfort. Like fat donuts. Or hot buttered bread.
I recently told a baker this and he educated me that yeasty products can be mixed two ways.
THE SPONGE METHOD.
Stirs the four, yeast and half the needed water into a slurry. It’s made several hours ahead of time. Later when the complete dough is mixed, it can be shaped and baked after 1 rising.. (This allows the baker to sleep through the night.)
THE STRAIGHT DOUGH METHOD
Is the way we do it at home. Mix the ingredients. Let it rise. Knock it down. Let it rise. Knock it down again and then shape it.
The straight dough method requires more “hand discipline.” It takes longer. It gets “knocked down” more often.
It also produces a better textured bread with fewer holes and a deeper flavor and aroma.
So I sigh…
I suppose that’s like us…traveling through life.
The “hand discipline”, the “knocking down” creates a better product. The works of our hands become more flavorful because of what we’ve been through.
Phooey!!! It seems no one escapes life’s knocks. Not even bread.
But you can bet, while I’m learning my lessons…I’m padding the blows with prayers, a few fat
donuts (and maybe a hot chocolate, too.)
Lutheran Ladies Circle 
I recently passed up the donut temptation (don’t applaud, I’ll likely fail next time)–“troubles produce endurance” is only helpful AFTER you’ve survived the aforementioned trouble. When I’m basking in victory (full of myself), I’m great at preaching the “endurance” message….So, I’m real big on humility this week.
There’s nothing like a good kick in the pants to take those “basking in victory” moments away. Just another reason to have a donut, huh?
lol
“Phooey!!! It seems no one escapes life’s knocks. Not even bread.” Nope … not even bread. Mind you, I have had very good bread, so if knocking down is what it takes to make them that good, then knock em!
Now, please excuse me while I go ask Papa to help me honestly admit the same about my life.
Blessings
ann
I am SLOOOOOWLY becoming aware, that hard knocks are purposeful, they prepare us for the next piece of life. And one of the rules of having a heartbeat is that we have to keep moving onward. Good luck with the honesty thing.
ah donuts one of my guilty pleasures!! 🙂
Donut therapy is tried a true–or fried and true. Ah, yes…building character and endurance.
Well, one thing about making bread the “knock it down” way is that you can vent an awful lot of frustration. When I was working full-time, I would make bread three times a week. Kneading, punching – one for you, one for your ugly brother, and another smack for your sister, just because. When life knocks you down, hit it back.
Honey bunny, I’m right there with you. I used to go out and whack a golf ball, but I missed so many times that I became frustrated with the ball instead of whoever I was peeved at. It’s much more fun to whack-a-doodle the bread dough…besides…you can eat the end product.
It is a bit sad isn’t it. And none of the old phrases ever, but ever promise ease, comfort or suggest that taking the easy route is desirable. Have you noticed that the phrase ‘that’s life’ does NOT describe the days when your clothes fit (and look good), your hair lies as it should and nobody drank the last of the milk before your morning cuppa? Instead ‘that’s life’ is for the days you step in animal puke as your climb out of bed, slag toothpaste down your shirt and only notice it when you are rushing out the door… Which is wrong. I vote for celebrating the good days and giving them status in the ‘that’s life’ stakes as well.
You know what, Sue? You wrote this better than I did. Can I hire you to write my blogs?
If I was to agree to that, I would have nothing to look forward to when my reader said that there was a new post from you. So not only no, but definitely not. A new post from you makes me smile as the cursor moves to the open sesame button.
Oh, I could SO use some fat donuts right about now–PLEASE!!! (PS–good message, too)
I know, don’t you get the hankering for a donut every now and then? I wish they were better for us.
I, too, would prefer not to have the “knocking down.” Would too much knocking down cause something to give up rising again? I have had enough knocking down and would prefer to have more caressing and gentle touch! I think I am strong enough.
See, Rose. That’s what I say everytime a basket of trouble comes up. But the lessons keep coming. So we hang on, knowing ‘this too will pass.’ And then we get to help someone else with our “enduring wisdom” when the opportunity comes along. It makes me pause and respond a little gentler.