Kindness, Squash, and UFOs
Nita Gilger
The old man in overalls and a cowboy hat carried a large basket full of squash from his garden. His lovely wife followed along faithfully by his side as they went from table to table at the local cafe'. As they meandered along, they made conversation, smiled big, contagious smiles and offered their garden delights to each of us. There was no charge. The couple explained that they had more than they needed and would love for each of us to take a few squashes. The elderly woman gave tips, when asked, about her favorite way to fix the vegetables. It was as if kindness was oozing out of their very pores. Each line in the elderly couples’ faces seemed to tell a story of lives well-lived--full of compassion.
It was no problem to recognize the large zucchini squash in the cloth-lined basket but there was one that was unfamiliar to me. It looked like a miniature space ship. I chose this unknown type of squash that I had never seen before. Why not take a wild adventure in vegetable exploration? After some investigation and inquiries, I learned that what I had is sometimes called a flying saucer, pattypan, or scallop squash. It is a tender summer squash with round shape and scalloped edges. It is known for its sweet flavor and buttery texture. I decided to call it a UFO squash. I plan on roasting it in the oven today with some olive oil, salt and pepper with a squeeze of lemon juice and topped with a little feta cheese. By all accounts, it should be delicious.
Here's the deal though. As I take each bite, I plan on remembering, with gratitude, the kindness of strangers. In our culture these days, that type of unconditional love and joy may too often be an Unidentified Foreign Object. How about we bring it back? Maybe our best shot is to realize how connected we really are. I believe real transformation can happen in communities within communities. There are ways of caring and kindness that can sustain us and provide what we need if we share and care.
Texas is a friendly place by and large. Here in our small towns, we generally find friendliness and helping each other to be more common than not. But even Texas has some meanness. You may say it’s just politics or media. But I think it is a cultural shift and wave of sarcastic, combative, unkind behavior that we have to intentionally rise-up against.
My mom used to say "kill 'em with kindness." That seems like an oxymoron to me. I mean, how is killing someone with anything kind? Of course, I know the phrase means to disarm hostile or negative people by responding to their bad behavior with extreme generosity, empathy, or unexpected warmth. Being kind when someone else isn't is effective because it catches them off-guard. There are those folks who wake up every morning just wanting to pick a fight with life and anyone who gets in their way. Unexpected kindness and warmth can often deprive them of the conflict they were seeking.
Here is my decision for the day: I plan on planting and cultivating kindness. Kindness in our current culture may seem like an Unidentified Foreign Object, but I plan on joining folks who are willing to bring it back. It seems to me that the two greatest
commandments point us in that type of growing and caring. We are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and minds and love our neighbors as ourselves. Works for me!
The flying saucer squash was strange to me. But the farmer and his wife's kindness felt like coming home to myself. No...it felt like coming home to God. It was not foreign, strange, or unusual to my new-found farmer friends at the cafe'. It was as natural to them as taking a breath. Kindness is who they are. May it be who I am too. Amen.
It was no problem to recognize the large zucchini squash in the cloth-lined basket but there was one that was unfamiliar to me. It looked like a miniature space ship. I chose this unknown type of squash that I had never seen before. Why not take a wild adventure in vegetable exploration? After some investigation and inquiries, I learned that what I had is sometimes called a flying saucer, pattypan, or scallop squash. It is a tender summer squash with round shape and scalloped edges. It is known for its sweet flavor and buttery texture. I decided to call it a UFO squash. I plan on roasting it in the oven today with some olive oil, salt and pepper with a squeeze of lemon juice and topped with a little feta cheese. By all accounts, it should be delicious.
Here's the deal though. As I take each bite, I plan on remembering, with gratitude, the kindness of strangers. In our culture these days, that type of unconditional love and joy may too often be an Unidentified Foreign Object. How about we bring it back? Maybe our best shot is to realize how connected we really are. I believe real transformation can happen in communities within communities. There are ways of caring and kindness that can sustain us and provide what we need if we share and care.
Texas is a friendly place by and large. Here in our small towns, we generally find friendliness and helping each other to be more common than not. But even Texas has some meanness. You may say it’s just politics or media. But I think it is a cultural shift and wave of sarcastic, combative, unkind behavior that we have to intentionally rise-up against.
My mom used to say "kill 'em with kindness." That seems like an oxymoron to me. I mean, how is killing someone with anything kind? Of course, I know the phrase means to disarm hostile or negative people by responding to their bad behavior with extreme generosity, empathy, or unexpected warmth. Being kind when someone else isn't is effective because it catches them off-guard. There are those folks who wake up every morning just wanting to pick a fight with life and anyone who gets in their way. Unexpected kindness and warmth can often deprive them of the conflict they were seeking.
Here is my decision for the day: I plan on planting and cultivating kindness. Kindness in our current culture may seem like an Unidentified Foreign Object, but I plan on joining folks who are willing to bring it back. It seems to me that the two greatest
commandments point us in that type of growing and caring. We are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and minds and love our neighbors as ourselves. Works for me!
The flying saucer squash was strange to me. But the farmer and his wife's kindness felt like coming home to myself. No...it felt like coming home to God. It was not foreign, strange, or unusual to my new-found farmer friends at the cafe'. It was as natural to them as taking a breath. Kindness is who they are. May it be who I am too. Amen.