Burgoo / Stone Soup ...the Wayfarer 1/24/17

Burgoo  / Stone Soup
1/24/17

In one of the small towns in which I once was a sojourner, there were numerous celebrations throughout the year held to bring together its occupants in some unity and common pride of citizenship.

Among these were concerts held in a central park, occupied by a gazebo that housed the musicians that contributed to entertainment in the summer months for all willing to participate, no charge for the simple pleasure of the music.

At other times, various carnivals and fundraisers were held in the same small park, bringing neighbors and friends together for the occasion, most often for the purpose of improving the lot of those inhabitants that participated.

One of these events was an annual event called a Burgoo, hopefully not misspelled, that brought to life the old story of Stone Soup that was then and remains a favorite of mine.

I remember questioning just what Burgoo was at the time, having no idea of what the celebration was all about, or of just what went into that huge pot that contained the meal that was the center of that celebration that brought so many from so far to participate and enjoy the accompanying celebrations.

The locals that I asked about what went into that pot invariably answered, “a little of everything.”

Canned goods were brought in by those preparing the mixture, as was meat, and flavors of salt, pepper and spices that all contributed to the final product.

During the preparation, there was always a cautious “cook” assuring that the pranksters were not allowed to ruin the mixture by adding unsavory or unhealthy substances, which was the goal of far too many of the attendees.

Care was given that not too much of any single ingredient was added, but that each ingredient was considered and added both for nutrition and flavor.

There was a constant fire that was stoked beneath that pot that cooked and mingled those flavors and ingredients into the palatable and consistent mixture to be served. That stoking and careful watch was also one of the major ingredients of the final product.

The end result was deemed delicious and worthy by those who came to celebrate, and was profitable in its further contribution to the unity and consideration shown as the profits were used in the care and maintenance of that small community.

As I stated, these events invariably reminded me of the old story of Stone Soup, from my youth that served as a reminder of what can be accomplished by the efforts of many toward a common goal, when each is willing to contribute what they have to make something far better than any single ingredient being hoarded.

Both the reminiscence of these events, called Burgoos, and the old story from my childhood are reminders of how powerful the church can be when the various gifts held by its members are combined in the common effort to feed God’s people, and how necessary each contribution is for the nutrition of those who are willing participants within it.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27King James Version (KJV)

¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many.

¹⁵ If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

¹⁶ And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

¹⁸ But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where were the body?

²⁰ But now are they many members, yet but one body.

²¹ And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

²² Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

²³ And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

²⁴ For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

²⁵ That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

²⁶ And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Just as each ingredient that went into the “stone soup”, or Burgoo was important to the end result, so too is the contribution of each member of the Church.

Just as care was given to those ingredients and the pot was jealously guarded to keep the purity of its nutrition, so too is the necessity to guard closely the purity of the ingredients being combined to effect the savor of that Church.

Those who would bring the frogs, bugs, and unsavory ingredients were guarded against, as must those who bring other than acceptable ingredients, though disguised as being acceptable by a society bent on destroying the soup.

Those who would accept the combination of ingredients deemed unacceptable will eventually partake of those ingredients brought, poisonous as it may be.

The mixture of equality demanded that includes abomination and murder is a separate mixture from that which provides compassion and forgiveness.

The pot is being stirred, the mixtures being offered are either one of nutrition as given through the grace of God whose savor comes from the Savior given for that purpose, and ALL demanded by that Savior, Redemption in turn for Repentance, or refusal to give that required ingredient in preference of the poison offered in its place.

Titus 2:11-15

King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

¹⁴ Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

¹⁵ These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer