In a small village nestled between rolling hills, there lived a baker named Simon. Simon was renowned for his exquisite bread, which he baked in an old, stone oven passed down through generations. People from all over came to taste Simon’s bread, marveling at its perfect crust and soft center.
Last night he had just gotten a huge order for a reception at the palace which he regarded as a great honor. Simon knew that he was up for the job, but still couldn’t help feeling excited and a little anxious.
As the first light of dawn crept through the bakery windows, Simon prepared to bake his famous loaves. He meticulously measured flour, water, salt, and yeast, mixing them with practiced hands. The dough was then left to rise, a process Simon had perfected over the years.
As the dough rested, Simon busied himself cleaning the bakery and preparing for the day’s customers. His mind raced through a checklist of tasks: prepare the dough, arrange the tools, light the oven. He was so engrossed in his routine that he failed to notice his young daughter, Lily, watching him curiously from the doorway.
“Daddy, is the bread ready yet?” Lily asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.
“Not yet, sweetheart,” Simon replied, glancing at the dough. “It still needs to bake. I’ve prepared everything perfectly, just as I always do.”
Lily stepped closer, her gaze fixed on the unbaked loaves. “But, Daddy, isn’t there something very important you need to do before the bread can bake?”
Simon chuckled, confident in his routine. “I’ve been baking bread since before you were born, Lily. I know exactly what I’m doing.”
Lily, however, remained unconvinced. “But, Daddy, the oven. Isn’t it important?”
Simon paused, his mind racing through his mental checklist once more. Suddenly it dawned on him. In his preoccupation with preparation, he had forgotten to light the oven—the very heart of the baking process. Without its warmth, his perfect dough would never transform into the bread his customers loved.
Embarrassed but grateful, Simon knelt beside Lily, enveloping her in a warm hug. “You’re right, Lily. The most important part was the one thing I overlooked. Thank you for reminding me.“
“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”
– John 15:5
Just as Simon was so caught up in getting the job done that He forgot the most important thing, we too may often find ourselves lost in the endless checklist of tasks, responsibilities, and routines. But in the pursuit for success and excellence, it is important to think back and ask the question – have we overlooked the most critical element? The very foundation that breathes life into our efforts?
This tale of a simple baker and his oven draws parallels to our spiritual journey and the indispensible role of faith in our lives.
Christ, the Cornerstone
All of Simon’s careful preparation would be for naught if he had not remembered to light the oven. Simon’s story is a mirror reflecting our own lives. We measure, mix, knead, and prepare, but how often do we forget to ignite the flame that transforms our efforts into fruition? This oversight is not just about forgetting a step in a process; it symbolizes our tendency to rely solely on our capabilities, forgetting the divine spark necessary for true transformation.
Christ must always be the foundation. Without the warm grace of God in our lives, our endeavors remain futile and unfulfilled. Recognizing that God is the source of all good in our lives isn’t a dismissal of our own efforts or talents, but rather a reminder of how He is the source. Just as the dough needs the oven’s heat to become bread, we need God’s grace to realize our potential and fulfill our purpose.
