January 19:  CONSISTENCY. Many Thanks to Warren for today’s prompt, as we take a moment or two each day this month to reflect on words that come from the community. And thanks to Linda G Hill for getting us organized!

A Gift of Bread-Making

Woke up to 20 below this morning, and that was AFTER sunrise. It is MLK Jr. Day today, even as the eldritch forces attempt to smudge this from our memories. We remember, and we move forward in reverence to his—and our—mission.

It’s as if the extreme (even for Minnesota) cold temps and the warm sun blazing through my front window are in accordance (and you thought Sunday was cold!). There’s a kind of rough balance being struck between the season and the sun, harsh winter and a promise of brighter, greener days. We’ve got to remain constant in our resolve to curb violence (as angry as we are), love our neighbors as best we can, bear witness, and feed and nurture our children and elders in both body and soul. This, too, is a beautiful radical resistance that builds toward a better future. I’m baking sourdough today, a small act perhaps, but also an important one.

Sourdough starter begins as an idea of what we’d like to create, before the levain is fed and left out overnight to double in size. It holds and combines the detailed memory of this day with the history of its first creation; my starter is at least three years old, a gift from a friend, who got it from a neighbor. And so on, and so on…

Today, as I dig my hands into my rising bread dough, I’ll check for elasticity, consistency in texture throughout the day, sprinkle a little flour or withhold, as my mindful presence feels is right to help it rise and ready itself for its next phase. I’ll enlist the help of the brilliant sun to help the dough rise, then split and combine other ingredients for flavor. Brush an egg or maybe milk and butter wash to brown the crust and protect the interior crumb. Slide it into the oven, as the dreamed up recipe requires. I’ll share with family and neighbors, and keep some for myself, because in order to move forward, I need to care for myself, too.

Not a TED talk, just a rant.

© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2026) 

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