During the Christmas holiday, I was able to rent the movie, “Julie and Julia”. The plot is rather unique. Many of you are aware of the famous Julia Child of cooking fame. Her recipe books were best sellers, and she was also on television. Well, she is the inspiration for the book by Julie Powell that forms the format of the movie.
Here it goes. Julie Powell was working in a dead end job in New York and lived in run-down borough of the city. Life seemed without hope until she decided to try something different. Julie decided that she would like to learn how to cook well. Her guide was the recipe book by Julia Child, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”. The movie cleverly shows us that the famous cook Julia Child was in a similar situation while living in Paris after World War Two. She also took up cooking and went to school to learn from the masters. Years later, she was able to get her book published. The key to her success was that her work was focused on trying to teach her cooking to an American audience. It changed the way North Americans ate.
Julie Powell decided that she would take up the challenge to cook all 524 recipes within a year. Moreover, modern computer technology allowed her to make a diary (blog) of the experience that everyone could read daily. Her attempts were a hit! She was even featured in the newspapers of New York. Indeed, as I watched the movie I could appreciate her personal growth, as she tried to meet schedules, overcome failure, and balance all this with her regular job. She is inspiring to all of us, as was Julia Child a generation ago.
After the movie, I had time to reflect upon this connection between generations. Was it not strange how an old book and a purpose were so inspiring to the modern Julie Powell? I soon realized that the Bible has always functioned in the same manner for me and for countless others over time. Within its covers are the recipes for a meaningful life, regardless of the seemingly dead end situations the world dishes out to us. It inspires us to venture into newness, even if there are bound to be failures. Our recovery from our disappointments is part of the learning. Go back and try the recipe again. Success will eventually come. Experience has proved it. Even a character like Job was able to get back on track again!
One part of the movie was upsetting, namely, Julie never got to meet Julia. Apparently, Julia Child’s approval was never forthcoming. The Bible has no such disappointment. God has already given us his approval. In addition, there is the promise that we will eventually meet God “face to face”. I’m not sure what God has cooking in the kitchen for that ultimate “Messianic Banquet” described in Isaiah 25, but I’m sure that all of Julia Child’s recipes have been covered. Perhaps, you might try reading the Bible this year, cover to cover, or with the help of a daily reading guide. You might even try listening to it on a recorded disc, while driving to work and back. You will be able to make a connection between generations too. So, as Julia Child would say, “Bon Appetit!”