During the almost year-long quarantine we have been facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have become more aware of time. As adults, it is not that we didn’t know what time was before, but for many, our relationship with time has changed.
So often I’ve heard the phrase “I didn’t have enough time” or “there wasn’t enough time to do this or that” prior to the experience of quarantine. During the quarantine of 2020, however, I heard instead people speak about binge-watching entire seasons of streamed shows in one weekend because they had the time, people who never baked a cookie suddenly having the time to bake a cake, and some who had not painted in years going back to their canvases. I also heard people say “I am bored” and “what am I going to do with all of my time?” The rediscovery of time in the setting of a pandemic limits our ability to interact with one another, slows down our pace, and confines us to our immediate environments. And it can teach us many things, particularly the value of time as a gift from God to be used well.
There is an old saying that “idle hands are the playground of the devil.” This means it is easier to get into mischief when you have nothing to do. The experience of quarantine has taught me that while God is not bound by time, He has given time to us as a gift. It is the gift that our lives move through while following the path of His love. Like any gift, it is up to us to use time carefully and to not squander it, to value it, and to not take it for granted.
As a chef, I know the value of time. Leave something in the oven too long, and it will burn; not enough, and it will be raw. The right amount of time spent on each task in your day or aspect of your life is a balancing act of not too little and not too much. How do you fill up your time? What do you do when you have newfound time or not enough time? Are you always running from time, or do you embrace it and allow it to move you through your life? Do you use your time for the glory of God and in service to your neighbor, or is your time yours, something you use selfishly?
MONSIGNOR JAMIE GIGANTIELLOis the vicar for development of the Diocese of Brooklyn and host of the NET-TV cooking show Breaking Bread. He also is the pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel-Annunciation Parish in Brooklyn, NY.
Filet Mignon Strips
One of my favorite cuts of steak is a filet mignon, and this recipe doesn't disappoint. The tender, flavorful meat surrounded by the sauteed mushrooms, onions, and peppers create a taste that's hard to resist.
Ingredients: Salt
Pepper
Olive oil
¼ cup white wine
Filet mignon
½ sliced onion
Dijon mustard
Sliced red bell pepper
¼ cup sliced shiitake mushrooms
Preparation: 1. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper on both sides of the filet.
2. Pour olive oil on to a pan and place on medium heat.
3. Place the filets on the pan and cook for 3-5 minutes or to liking.
4. Remove the filets from the pan and set aside.
5. Using the same pan, add a little oil, onions, shiitake mushrooms, and red bell pepper. Allow time to sauté.
6. Add a spoonful of Dijon mustard. Mix in.
7. Place the cooked filets back into the pan and add
a bit of white wine.
8. Allow time for the white wine to reduce a bit.
9. Serve next to mashed potatoes and enjoy!