While I always enjoy church, on this week I was especially glad for the distraction and to be around friends and neighbors, if not family, though the afternoon was uncharted territory for me - I was a lone traveler in a land of isolation. On other days during my family's time away, I could distract myself from my solitude with work, errands, dinner with the missionaries in our area and other activities including a movie and NBA Jam challenge on the Wii with my excellent brother-in-law Stephen. While it was a given that their absence would be temporary and of a defined and relatively brief duration, especially when compared to periods of separation endured by others due to work, military service or death, it was nonetheless acutely felt.
I went through the motions of existence and decided to make a family favorite - a simple but classic chicken pot pie. My plan was that leftovers would serve as good fodder for later and that I would not have to cook again for a while.
Though it was the usual preparation, as I sat down to eat, it just didn't seem to be that savory. What does that have to do with the proverb? The answer is this: Hunger may be the best cook, but good company is the best seasoning, and the want of it leaves a gap that cannot be filled with food, no matter how delicious it may otherwise be.
