Rachael Ray doesn't bake.
She admits she doesn't bake.
Generally, if there is something to be baked on camera for The Rachael Ray Show, she has a staff member or guest bake it for her.
She doesn't bake.
Just think for a moment, though, what would have happened, if decades ago as a waitress in upstate New York, she had relented, "Oh, I can't become a successful cook/TV host/cookbook author/furniture designer/pet food developer/advocate for hunger, because, well, I don't bake. . . ."?
Of course, there have been countless decisions and steps that have led to her success in all of the areas and more mentioned above, but the most important quality I see when looking in on her career is one very important thing she didn't do at the very beginning.
She didn't disqualify herself based on something she didn't--and still doesn't--do.
"Things You Don't have to Do to be a Good Catholic Woman," by Haley Stewart, was written a few years ago for Carrots for Michaelmas. When I first read this, I was struck by all of the things I used to think a good, holy, Catholic woman looked like. The items listed are almost all characteristics that at one time or another I thought disqualified me in one way or another on my journey toward holiness and God's plan for my life, simply because that's not what my life looked like. The Church never taught me that; I just took these misconceptions to be true. Isn't it funny (not in a funny way) how our minds can make our differences disqualifying when we might not even realize it? The truth is, it isn't funny in any way--it is truly sad how many times I have disqualified myself from the plans God has for my life when He just asked me to follow. He never asked me to solve a complicated algebra equation--or "bake"--he just asked me, asks me, and all of us, to follow.
While we're on the topic of the tendency to disqualify ourselves, this three-part homily series from last January/February is what first really got me to examine how I have disqualified myself in all sorts of areas in my life in the past. These homilies from Fr. Mike are dear to my heart, and are always a reminder that God never asks us to use gifts that He hasn't given us.
Disqualified: Prevented or Prepared?
She admits she doesn't bake.
Generally, if there is something to be baked on camera for The Rachael Ray Show, she has a staff member or guest bake it for her.
She doesn't bake.
She. Doesn't. Have. to. Bake.
Of course, there have been countless decisions and steps that have led to her success in all of the areas and more mentioned above, but the most important quality I see when looking in on her career is one very important thing she didn't do at the very beginning.
She didn't disqualify herself based on something she didn't--and still doesn't--do.
"Things You Don't have to Do to be a Good Catholic Woman," by Haley Stewart, was written a few years ago for Carrots for Michaelmas. When I first read this, I was struck by all of the things I used to think a good, holy, Catholic woman looked like. The items listed are almost all characteristics that at one time or another I thought disqualified me in one way or another on my journey toward holiness and God's plan for my life, simply because that's not what my life looked like. The Church never taught me that; I just took these misconceptions to be true. Isn't it funny (not in a funny way) how our minds can make our differences disqualifying when we might not even realize it? The truth is, it isn't funny in any way--it is truly sad how many times I have disqualified myself from the plans God has for my life when He just asked me to follow. He never asked me to solve a complicated algebra equation--or "bake"--he just asked me, asks me, and all of us, to follow.
While we're on the topic of the tendency to disqualify ourselves, this three-part homily series from last January/February is what first really got me to examine how I have disqualified myself in all sorts of areas in my life in the past. These homilies from Fr. Mike are dear to my heart, and are always a reminder that God never asks us to use gifts that He hasn't given us.
Disqualified: Prevented or Prepared?
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