When YOU Disappear Your Masterpiece Appears
Happiness is absorption. ~T.E. Lawrence
During my years in university, there was a cook that I remember to this day. He worked in the university grill. He was well known amongst the students and staff. For his happiness.
Whether it was 6AM or 6PM, whether it was weekday or weekend, sunshine or hail, he greeted everyone with a boisterous Good morning. How are you this morning?
There might have been forty people in the breakfast line and he would greet every single one the same way. Many, including myself, would often wonder how it was that a man could be so joyful. Regardless of the time or the day.
While this was the quality he was most known for, I found another which was even more impressive.
I once snuck into the kitchen to watch him cook. I wanted to see this man in his natural state. What was he like behind the scenes?
As he would make a grilled cheese sandwich, he would place the bread onto the grill as if it were made of glass. He placed two pieces of cheese onto the bread and he took his spatula and he pressed down evenly and gently.
His left hand poured a small bit of oil onto the pan, while his right handled the spatula. He placed the sandwich onto a plate. Precisely in the center. He took a knife and pressed his left palm upon the top of the blade and pressed down, and then after it was cut he flicked his left hand into the air as if it were a show.
But there was no one there to watch. No one that he knew of, that is.
Suddenly one of the servers dropped a plate which fell and shattered about thirty feet from him. He didnt so much as flinch. His focus remained on the sandwich. On his ultimate creation. All the while, his lips remained pursed in concentration. His sleeves hung loose at the wrist. The entire affair was done with such rhythm, such grace. It was a ballet…
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