Of perseverance and delicious success

I have been watching Zumbo's Just Desserts, Season One, and impatient to find out who wins, I googled the winner and was pleasantly surprised. The winner, Kate, was the dark horse for she was the contestant who had to undergo the Zumbo test the most number of times. The Zumbo test is the knockout round for the two contestants with the lowest scores in each qualifying round.

That this no-nonsense mum of two won became my model for sheer grit. Her desserts usually tasted good, but she lacked sophistication and finesse in comparison to her fellow contestants' stunning creations. Plus, during the dreaded Zumbo tests, it seemed as if she would not be able to accomplish the fiendishly difficult sweet creations each time but she would just plug on, unflappable and calm, pulling it out of her pocket. No meltdowns, no second guessing but inexorable perseverance in the face of failure to put whatever she had created on a plate. She demonstrated that talent alone is not enough to make you a winner. Slow and steady does it and as Luke 8:15 says: 

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop of. 

We must keep on believing, and keep on moving forward even when it seems as if we have lost. That was how Kate who had to go through five Zumbo tests did it. 

No contestant wanted to do the Zumbo test for Adriano Zumbo is known for incredibly delicious and complex desserts comprising many components where he marries diverse flavours and textures divinely. Ironically Kate learned so much from these tests she needed to undergo, many new skills, plus the ability to multitask with Zen-like focus, that she beat more accomplished dessert makers who did not have the benefit of multiple Zumbo tests. 

So sometimes when we think we have been cursed with failure, it can be the very thing that comes to our aid in the near future. I am reminded to grin and bear it, rather than moan about my bête noires in life for they do build character, self- confidence, and they help me develop my gifts and talents.

Kate had dreams and aspirations. She also wanted to teach her children resilience. She joined the competition to realize her dreams and be a great role model to her children. By winning, she managed to take a giant step towards making her dreams come true. The road ahead is still not easy but with her attitude, I am sure she will succeed. So when life hands you lemons, make delicious lemon curd donuts, like Kate did. Aside from making you a winner, you also have the ability to make many happy. And that is the crop Luke encourages us to produce through persevering in our efforts to embody the Word.