If life were fair, I would be writing this from the beach in Turks and Caicos. I would probably have a touch of sunburn, a cocktail in my hand, and would hopefully be, at least 76% more relaxed than I am right now. BUT, because life is life and we all know that crazy things are a-happening, I am actually writing this sitting on my patio in my pajamas with coffee in hand in ridiculously hot and humid Texas. Not an ocean in sight.
Because, as we all should be aware by now, 2020 is just the worst.
When our intended departure date came and went with no lift-off, no tropical paradise, and, honestly, nothing to mark it as any different than the day before, I tried my very best to be magnanimous about it. I tried so very hard. But, if I’m being honest with you, I failed. Big Time.
I have been kind of bitter about it all week.
It’s not just the obvious disappointment of NOT being somewhere amazingly beautiful and tropical and having nothing to do all day but relax, swim, and relax some more and all the things that this vacation would have brought. It’s not even really just the loss of this vacation either because the idea of not getting back East to Maryland is equally, if not more, devastating than losing T&C.
It’s more just the overall loss and devastation this year has brought about on all of us. The uncertainty. The fear. The anger. The divisiveness. It’s taken its toll. And I’m not really sure what to do about it.
It’s been a bit crazy, hasn’t it? We’ve gone from a pandemic to outrage over the horrific taking of a man’s life by someone sworn to protect and serve, to protests and awakenings for some and riots and fear for others. Social media has become a battleground rife with hatred, fear-mongering, false information, real information, and millions of voices clamoring to be heard. What used to be a semi-healthy stress-release scrolling activity to do while vegging on the couch has become a minefield, creating more stress and confusion than you started out with.
No one knows exactly what to believe anymore. Have you noticed that? You can fact-check the fact-checker a million times and you can still not be sure that what you’re reading is 100% true and accurate information. This goes for the virus. This goes for politicians. This goes for everything.
Truth, in our world right now, seems highly irrelevant. And that’s weird, right? Because truth matters. Not a slant on truth. Not a personal interpretation of the truth. Not what we want to be the truth. Not partial truths because we took something someone said out of context for our own personal agenda. Not the world’s truth.
But TRUTH truth. The real deal. The Big Kahuna. The shizzz…
It matters.
Here’s the crux of why I’m feeling so iffy this week, and it’s honestly not just because I’m in my living room NOT a hotel room: I have a craving for truth right now because I know with truth comes peace. And only with truth. Nothing else.
And for me, my truth isn’t based on the media. Or Facebook. Or what’s going on in the streets or the pandemic charts* and mask-wearing debates. That’s not really where I need to place my stock. I know this. The truth I need to go back to again and again and again to fortify my sanity and peace is this:
God is ALWAYS in control. Yes, even when it seems like he’s not. He is.
I can’t live well without this truth. Nothing makes sense to me without this truth. I don’t understand the world without this very truth. Because otherwise, it’s all just pointless chaos. RIGHT?
Y’all, it’s scary what’s going on out there. So many things in our lives have changed and there is fear and anger and unrest everywhere. A lot of it, well-deserved. But is that what we need to lean into right now? Absolutely not.
Here is what I know (and I don’t know much). There is nothing new under the sun. Nothing. This current unrest? The pandemic? It’s all be played out in history in one way or another before. This does not make it right or make it ok. But it makes it human. And just like previous periods of unrest and previous pandemics and previous eras of discontent, God was there.
I know it. And so do you.
How do we know? Because God has always been here. He is, by the way, the First and the Last. Even if you only believe the Bible as a semi-factual representation of partial history, you can acknowledge it’s consistency through time. You can acknowledge that it tells stories of lives far more challenging in times far more tumultuous than ours. And you can also acknowledge, because it is true, that this book has been read long before we ever were even flyspecks in our parents’ eyes and will exist long after we are ashes in the ground.
This is truth. (and also humbling)
So with that acknowledgment, I’m going to take it a step further. God had David when he battled Goliath. God had Moses when he went up against the Pharoah. God had Joseph when his brothers sold him into slavery. God had Nehemiah when he set out to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. God had Joseph when he was walking around a wall in Jericho blowing some horns to knock it down. And, maybe most importantly, God was Jesus when he was crucified (for our sins, btw) and resurrected.
So when I think of what’s going on right now on the grand scale and I’m lost and more than a little scared, I have to remember this. Otherwise, I will lose my mind.
And furthermore, if we need concrete examples of God’s presence in this chaos, we can watch closely how good is coming in with the bad. The human spirit is incredibly powerful and people are doing God’s work right now, in practical and impactful ways. During the pandemic families slowed down, reconnected, rested. Neighbors were neighborly and strangers were helping strangers. Because we were all in it together.
This is finding God in things. 
During the unrest following George Floyd’s death, people were learning and for once (after way too long), white people who were maybe saying “All Lives Matter” (which they do but it’s not the point) were listening, really listening, and understanding why “Black Lives Matter.” And minds were being changed and hearts were being opened. That is God, too.
I don’t know if this provides you any comfort at all. Maybe you think I’m insane and are like, “whatever Meg, go back to drinking your Jesus Juice.” But I can tell you this, without this frame of reference it is very easy to feel lost and hopeless and like we’re on a slippery slope going nowhere. If you don’t believe God has this, then who does? That’s a scary thought.
Rest in this, dear friends. This too shall pass. God works all things for the good of those who believe. And even if your tropical beach vacation has been canceled and you’re feeling just a bit #firstworldproblem-y about your response, God still has this. It doesn’t make it better. Your vacation won’t magically rebook itself, the pandemic won’t go away and the unrest won’t immediately switch to peace. But you can. If your foundation is in “The First and the Last” then you can.
And love your neighbors as yourself, friends. That seems to be the ticket out of this.
Just sayin’.
Homemade Gluten-Free Granola
OK. Enough of Meaghan’s Sermon of the week. If you’re like half of my readers you’ve already clicked “jump to recipe” already so if you don’t like food blogs that do the whole “tell you my life story and then the recipe” thing, then please, do that. I’m not offended. I just don’t know how else to do this.
This Homemade Gluten-Free Granola took a long time to get perfect. I have been working on it for about a year, constantly tweaking and adjusting to get it just right. I’m not even going to say I’m 100% certain it’s there. it might always be a work in progress, but it’s close enough. It’s perfect over yogurt, in milk and, my favorite way, over oatmeal to add some crunch. But you do you and make it how you like it.
So here are my must-haves for great granola and how you can adjust this recipe if you differ:
- Not -too-sweet: I am not a fan at all of overly sweet granola. I hate it, in fact. So this one borders on salty-sweet in a way that I find delicious. If you need more sweetness in yours, add honey to the wet mixture after combining, a bit at a time, tasting as you go to get the right flavor.
- Not too chunky: Giant chunks of granola annoy me and hurt my teeth. I like small clusters coupled with individual pieces. So I go with two cups of oats so there is a higher ratio of dry to wet ingredients. Like bigger chunks, cut down to 1 1/2 cups and see how it works.
- More nuts and seeds than sweet bits: I like pretty basic granola. No bells and whistles. But the amazing thing about this recipe is you can customize. Like chocolate chips? Add them in. Want raisins? Do it. Make this your own, It will still be amazing, just your amazing. Which is the best kind.
This is a great make-ahead and store recipe. One batch lasts me about a week, give or take a few days. It’s versatile and just one heck of a staple recipe. I hope you enjoy it!
Peace love and, well, peace,
Meg
*I recognize that science is, in fact, truth. Just talking about a different kind in this post.
Homemade Gluten-Free Granola
Ingredients
- 1 1/2- 2 cups gluten-free oats (quick oats or traditional)
- 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (or nut of your choice)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1/2 cup runny peanut butter (heated in microwave for 10 seconds if from the fridge)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg white, beaten
Directions
- Step 1 Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper
- Step 2 Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk gently to combine.
- Step 3 In a separate microwavable bowl, combine all of the wet ingredients except for the egg. Whisk to combine.
- Step 4 If the wet ingredients seem thick, pop in the microwave for a few seconds until loosened and runny.
- Step 5 Taste. If you want a sweeter granola, add in extra honey.
- Step 6 Add wet ingredients to dry. Mix well, making sure that every dry piece is coated. Might be easiest by hand.
- Step 7 Add in beaten egg white and mix to combine.
- Step 8 Using a spatula, spread granola on baking sheet in an even layer.
- Step 9 Bake for 20 minutes at 300.
- Step 10 Turn the oven off and leave granola in the oven until cooled (3-4 hours or more if possible).
- Step 11 Break apart and store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Welcome to BurntToast! My name is Meaghan, and this is my safe space, a place where we can share stories, share recipes and share life. It’s my dream that you can come here, kick your shoes off and pour yourself a glass of wine while you read, laugh, and maybe even hop into the kitchen. This is my heart, for all of you to see. And ALL are welcome here.