The Great Chef

Once upon a time there was a Great Chef who was well known and revered for the deep love he held for all, the generosity he displayed and the delicious, medicinal delicacies that he created.

He was renowned through all the lands, and many chefs deferred to his knowledge, imploring his wisdom and copying his work. He was called upon uncountable times to share his knowledge and expertise to solve many different dilemmas, health problems and generally give wise advice to almost any situation that anyone could think of.

He amassed great wealth - more than generations could enjoy - and the extent of his fields and herds ran over forest and valley, lake and desert. He had more than enough to indulge his generous heart to its endless limit.

Really, the Great Chef was a legend.

A very cold winter came to his neighbouring land when sickness and starvation was rife. The leaders of this stricken land were not good or compassionate, but were terribly greedy and left the people to suffer. So the Great Chef sent a message to all the people:

“I am holding a great feast. Please all come and be my guests, eat to your heart’s delight and bring wagons with you to fill with food to take home for yourselves and anyone who cannot be with us. It is my honour and my joy to help you through this difficult time any way that I can. I wish only to relieve your suffering with my medicine, and your hunger with my food. All are welcome, please come and freely receive.”

The Great Chef sent his emissaries throughout the neighbouring land to proclaim the invitation to every citizen. The feast was to be available for all, and to continue as long as the famine and sickness lasted.

The message was clear: over and over again the Great Chef’s emissaries repeated their proclamation: “Please come. Freely receive. Take all you need.”

Then the Great Chef began to prepare delicacies, endless supplies of fine meats and healing vegetables and herbs; blending teas and tinctures and brewing beer and ciders. He delighted so much in his work that he was everywhere at once, making sure that every heart’s desire was catered for, every pain and woe could be remedied.

He called his tailors to make beautiful robes of linen, wool and cotton for his guests to take with them, and spinners and weavers to craft warm blankets and coats.

And then all that was left was for the Great Chef to await the arrival of his guests.

*

Alek pushed his wagon home. As Mareesa opened the door of their cottage she was surprised to see her husband’s eyes glowing. When was the last time she had seen that? She shook her head and Danna pushed past her mama to go and help her father unload the fuel he carried for the fire.

“I will tell you…” Alek began. Then he caught Mareesa up in a big hug and spun her around. Setting her back down he placed his hands on her head, cupping her face and hair…

“Hope, my love. I have hope.”

Turning back to his wagon he called, “Come on girls! Let’s get some warmth in our bones!”

Mother placed a kettle on the stove to boil. Aunty sat darning, a large basket of the neighbours' socks at her side. She didn't miss a stitch as she heard the stir.

“I just heard a story about a man who has offered us provisions and medicine. I will take the wagon and leave the day after next. Danna and Mareesa, you can come with me if you want to. Mora, I shall bring you the medicine you need. Mother and Aunty, we will bring back food and medicine for you too…”

Mareesa covered her mouth with her hands. Her eyes filled with tears. “Of course I will come. If the man needs payment maybe we can work for it.”

“The man said to come. Freely he is giving of what he has to help our people. We must go soon. We cannot last much longer. I think we all know this.”

Mother turned to the stove. She humphed and tutted, snorting derisively. “Who gives anything for free? Go! We will never see you again. He may keep you as slaves.”

Alek had not expected this. He was so sure of himself, so sure of the message he heard.

Mareesa took his hands. “Look at me. If what you heard is true, let’s not wait. Let’s prepare for the journey and go.”

“Right. Right.” A bravado he did not feel anymore. Exhaustion, cold and hunger, heart break and disillusionment - who was he really to ask for anything different? Had he not allowed his family to slip into this murky existence? The tiny fresh mound of earth outside called him…. Was he willing to take a risk on hope to end this suffering?

“If we can, we will leave at first light.”

Mother took her shawl from the peg on the door and left. “I will go and find out about this ‘special man’ and see what we must do…”

The town was abuzz. People shared opinions, news and gossip in the streets and in every doorway and house. Mother listened as she passed and mingled watchfully. She wound her way around the streets until she found the messenger himself who was saddling up to leave on his rather beautiful and healthy horse.

“Did anyone hear his message?” she asked loudly. “What did he say? What do we need to do?”

“Just go there!” shouted a woman in the crowd. “He said just come!”

A man sidled up to her and said, “I can get you entrance to his palace and give you the rules for access. I will be here all day, bring your fee and I will tell you what you need to know.”

Mother’s eyes grew wide and she hurried home to find money to buy this valuable information. She returned with the coins that were meant for taxes. Different stalls were popping up now, and men were shouting, “My way is the only way! This path is the only one that leads to the land of the Great Chef!” Confused, Mother chose a stall with a friendly-faced woman who seemed very concerned for her. Mother paid her fee and then with rapt attention she sat and listened to the rules she must follow to receive this ‘free gift’….

And so the day progressed. Mother brought back news of the rules and payments due that she was giving to the woman in the town square. Alek was torn because he had heard the message, and he was sure that there were no rules or fees. Aunty kept on darning, Mora wrapped in a shawl at her feet, whilst Mareesa and Danna took care of packing for their journey.

The evening saw a family divided. Mother could not believe that good things could be free. Alek had to be responsible. Mareesa was prepared to search far and wide for hope and was adamant they must go to see for themselves. Danna was exhausted, hungry and cold, Mora sick and silent. Aunty kept on darning, delivering her repaired garments and returning quietly home with a potato, swill for the goat or a tiny coin for the tax jar. On she worked. Oblivious to hope or change.

Dawn found Alek with many doubts, Mareesa with resolve and Danna up early milking the goat for provision to take with them. Mother preached all she had heard, availing them with all the provisos they must follow to gain access. The rule list had seemed to grow in the night. Alek sighed.

And then there were no more words to say, no more doubts to entertain - because they were on their way. Mother waved and waved goodbye. Mora crawled into Aunty’s lap and Aunty wrapped her arms around her. Aunty whispered, “Please help them, if You are there. It is too late for me. But have mercy on them. Help them to find a better life.” A silent tear rolled down her cheek and splashed on Mora’s hair. Then she picked up her sewing again as Mother rushed out of the door to make sure she had missed no rules.

*

When the Great Chef perceived the first of his guests approaching his palace he was overjoyed. He ran out onto the road to meet Alek, Mareesa and Danna with open arms. He washed their tired faces and bathed their aching feet, offering them cool spring water and draughts of cider. Then he clothed them in beautiful robes and led them to vined arbours where they could rest. Platters of fruit and pastries were sent to serve them.

The Great Chef’s guests were astonished.

“We are not important. Is there a mistake, do you think we are somebody else? Is this an occasion for royalty?”

“In my house, you are king and queen and princess. Each of you are my esteemed and most loved guests. There is nothing you need to do, because it is my deepest joy to share with you all the riches, knowledge and happiness that I have. Take freely, because truly, it is my joy to see you restored.”

After this speech the Great Chef, overcome with joy, went to each of them and hugged and kissed them.

“Thank you for coming! Thank you!”

*

The first recipients of the Great Chef’s generosity went back to their land, and they took with each of them a laden wagon of produce and medicine to share. They told of their adventures of roaming in beautiful lands and partaking of good gifts to their hearts’ delight!

“And Mother! It was all free! No money, and no rules!” said Alek, his eyes shining.

Many in the town listened, but could not believe it. They needed the rules and payment to prove that they were worthy of such generosity. They preferred to believe that it was earned They could not accept unconditional gifts.

And so the few who could believe, and who knew of the abundantly unconditional generosity of the Great Chef, spent their time distributing small amounts of gifts that the people could allow themselves to receive. Alek and a handful of believers made the journey to the Great Chef’s lands often for supplies. Their hearts were so filled with thankfulness that they found the greatest of joy in sharing the free abundance that the Great Chef supplied.

*

To this day, quiet givers go about sharing the knowledge of free gifts from the “Great Chef”. These workers are unobtrusive, usually extremely kind, having lived difficult lives before discovering that it is not necessary to follow all the rules, to pay endless fees or work terribly hard at being good to access unconditional love and abundance of every good thing. They will tell about the freedom they know, and the love that they share is real.

And so it is up to each person to choose: can each choose to be free, to accept that each citizen of Earth is worthy already, that unconditional love and abundance do not need rules to access?

Can each person hope, and trust that peace and joy are free for the taking? - that the old robes of doubt, fear, sorrow and turmoil can be cast off and new ones donned? Can each trust that the Great Universe has the exact map for each to journey to their greatest dreams and realise the endless, infinite joy of their deepest hearts?

Can you?

The End.