Like Cast Iron

I read in a memoir recently that “strength is for service, not status.”

Humble, dependable, non-flashy strength that is all about actively serving, rather than display. 

Sounds like cast iron cookware to me.

The campfire-resistant cookware equivalent to gym weights has the type of hefty strength that holds purpose, stability, longevity, beef stew, cornbread, and hobo pies within its thick rugged walls.

As I muster Popeye biceps to manhandle my cornbread-batter-filled, 6-quart, 3-legged cast iron Dutch oven into my electric oven, the symbolism of this unique tool hits me. I’m also struck with the fact that there is an oven inside an oven, which is another form of iron; the kind that ends with a ‘y.’ But, this is a story about marriage, not dad jokes, so I’ll move on.

To maintain an even cooking temperature in a campfire, work is necessary. There’s a bit of math that goes into figuring out the needed ratio of charcoal briquette quantity to Dutch oven circumference and volume, coal placement on the lid and underneath, and the timing of quarter rotations. 

To keep the precious contents from burning, constant check-ins are crucial. This is not a set-it-and-forget-it type of activity. 

To prevent cast iron from rusting and deteriorating, careful cleaning, complete drying, and proper storage are essential. Even the most sturdy and solid are to be handled with care.

When a piece of cast iron cookware is protected and preserved, the results are invaluable. It creates a lifetime of cooking and a legacy that is passed down for generations to come. 

However, there is something all the more remarkable about cast iron. Even if rust develops, it’s not too late. With appropriate steps and materials, salvaging that cookware is possible. 

It can be repaired, refurbished, re-seasoned, and restored, producing redemption as sweet as that golden cornbread.

An ironclad marriage is priceless. The Good Lord knows that type of strength is needed when placed in the fire. But, so much goodness can come out of that heat, serving up something savory and nutritious to the whole family.

Now, that is worth its weight in iron.

*Quote from The Message (Romans 15:1-2)

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