Have you ever sat listening to the rhythm of the ocean waves? They roll in; they roll out. They lull us into a calm while reawakening our awe and wonder of our mighty God. Nature and the rhythm of life that it holds tend to ground us and remind us how big our God is and that He is in control.
We’ve needed some grounding during the last six months of quarantine. Days haven’t been normal, months haven’t been normal . . . leaving us with a disorientation of time. But this past week, we were jolted into the reality that it is August.
August in El Salvador is a harvest month for the largest crop: corn. And lots of corn started to ripen on the farm. All of a sudden, boxes and sacks of corn begin being placed on the doorsteps of the homes from the garden area. We started to see houseparents, staff and children shucking corn. Pictures started being snapped of “elote loco.” Elote loco is a typical Salvadoran food. Corn is boiled until tender and put on a stick. Then mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, Worcheshire sauce and shredded cheese are used as condiments to finish off this colorful dish. Tamales, riguas (fried corn cakes) and atol (a corn drink made with corn and milk) were all being prepared in the homes.
Corn is also dried and then ground to make the corn flour that is used to make tortillas. The tortilla dough is also stuffed with beans, cheese, pork and other ingredients to create the famous Salvadoran pupusa. Corn is a rhythm of the Salvadoran culture.
This harvest season has been a reawakening of some normalcy in the midst of a worldwide pandemic that keeps taking its twists and turns, causing uncertainty. Open our eyes, Lord, to see your rhythms. May we be still and know that You are God and still in control.
