Sweet Potatoes

I adore sweet potatoes. My favorite way to prepare them is roasted. It's bare bones and wonderfully savory to me. There's something very soothing about them. That's why I roasted some up for a friend this week. I wanted to share the love with her as she settles into life with a 3 year old and a newborn.

As I was preparing them for roasting, my awareness of sweet potatoes was heightened. Maybe it was due to my last post, but for some reason, I was more aware of  their raw beauty than I have been before. I lingered over washing them and noticed all the bumps and scars unique to each potato. The skin felt really rough in my hands, something I'd never really stopped to notice before. Then I cut them open, and the color shocked me. Yeah, I know, sweet potatoes are orange, but for some reason these were particularly stunning. They were smooth and rich at their core. After chunking them up, I drizzled olive oil, sprinkled a little sea salt and pepper, and roasted them until they were tender to a fork. I had to sample, just to be sure I wasn't taking junk to my friend, and they were divine. So simple, yet so yummy. The oil and minimal seasoning really complimented their flavor and who could see the imperfections I noticed in their raw form.

Naturally, I began simmering on what I can learn from these root veggies, especially since I'm trying to go naked these days. Here are a few thoughts:

1. Scars are necessary for growth. Give thanks for their presence in my life. In the end, they are hardly visible.
   
2. What color am I on the inside? Am I vibrant and alive?
   
3. Keep it simple by being me, which reminds me of a sermon I heard in seminary titled, Do You Know Who You Are? Then Why Don't You Act Like It? Sweet potatoes know who they are. They don't try to act like kale.
4. Find ways to compliment my true nature. It takes very little to bring out the delicious flavor of sweet potatoes.

I feel confident more simmering is in my future. Think I'll whip up another batch of roasted sweet potatoes while I continue to ponder.