So, a few weeks ago Frank Hart and I are in Seattle, WA checking out a great church. One afternoon we decide to hit up this little hole in the wall for lunch: Mike’s Chili Parlor. It was located about a block behind the church, at the base of a bridge (no joke) and next to a vacant lot. So needless to say, my expectations were really high.
Have you ever been in a restaurant where you were afraid that if you said the wrong thing you might get yelled at? And I’m not talking about where they do that kind of thing to make the tourists laugh - I’m talking about getting seriously chewed out by a lady who looks like she’s been taking orders since long before you were born. Have you? Well, this felt like one of those places. Combine that with the fact that the whole joint looked as if it hadn’t been thoroughly cleaned since the Carter administration (77-81) and I was worried.
But then, everything changed: the food arrived. It was then that I realized that they called it a chili parlor for a reason. Everything had chili on it. Everything. Spaghetti? Chili on top. Hot dog? Chili on top. French fries? Chili on top. Ice crea - okay, maybe not everything.
And I kid you not: the food was amazing. One bite and you knew why the place had been open for almost 70 years. Come to find out, the place is considered one of the best diners in the country?! On the afternoon we stopped by, the founder - Mike - was there taking orders and serving up bowl after bowl of chili. Can you imagine making chili for 70 years?
But hey, it got me thinking: we all have a God given vocation - we all have a calling. Some are sexier or more glamorous than others. Some involve curing diseases, others raising children, and - for at least one - serving chili. Go figure. And through each one of them God is answering prayers, providing for basic needs, and ensuring that our little worlds keep turning. But, I guess the learning for me is that no matter what you do, you always have the choice to do it well…even if you’re just making chili.
By the way - what are the similar, mom and pop joints in Houston? Know of any good ones?
November 7th, 2007 at 9:13 am
Hey, that place was featured on the Food Network the other day! It’s supposed to be amazing. Yum…almost made me want to eat beef again just watching, But, I make some pretty good homemade Boca Chipolte Black Bean Chili! So there.
Love ya,
Chrissy
November 7th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Sweet blog dude. Your big time!
November 13th, 2007 at 11:16 am
I’ve been there! I think it was the first time I was up at Mars Hill. Chili on Spaghetti… that place is nuts.
November 19th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
I really enjoyed this post. You are referring to something that I think many people forget about…that we all have a calling. I find that many people do not know what I mean when I say that my work is my ministry to the Lord. I believe He has called me to do what I do and by recognizing that…that makes it my ministry. I feel that if people were able to truly find their calling and experience what it means to be called to do something they could enjoy their lives as God intended. De Provecho.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:50 pm
I would encourage all parents to pray diligently for their children that they would seek God’s calling and then follow through. So many parents, myself included, just sort of passively sit and wonder what little junior is going to grow up to be, but imagine what happy and fulfilled adults we would help God create if our prayers for our kids included that they would find their call. And don’t only pray for a vocation, but for a spouse, a place to live, whatever their futures hold. A few times when I’ve prayed with my kids, I’ve included that, and I felt it made an impact on my kids, like, “Wow! You can actually pray for that?” Frank and Matt roaming the streets of Seattle. Scary, dude! Very scary!!