What cooking reveals about waiting

"Waiting is not time wasted. It’s growing roots for what’s to come."

Happy New Year!

Perhaps because of the feasting during the holidays, my first Eavesdrop of the year is inspired by what cooking in the kitchen has been teaching me about waiting.

For someone who barely uses his kitchen, I probably shouldn’t be writing this—but here goes.

Cooking has always struck me as an activity that requires a great deal of patience. Yet, there’s an aspect of it I had never paid much attention to until a few days ago when I found myself in conversation with an elderly woman about the art of waiting.

Imagine putting a pot of rice on the stove to parboil. While the rice is cooking, you don’t simply sit idle. Instead, you might prepare the ingredients for the dish, wash the dishes, or even handle something entirely unrelated to the kitchen. You’re busy—but with things that align with the goal of completing the meal.

Isn’t that how life should be?

We’re just a few weeks into the new year. For some, the energy is palpable—they’re signing up for courses, attending goal-setting webinars, and tackling vision boards. It’s the typical “starting the year strong” approach. For others, the year still feels like a haze. They’re overwhelmed, uncertain about what to pursue, or even discouraged. They don’t yet see the shape the year will take—and truthfully, who does?

The key lies in identifying what you’re waiting for. When you know what you’re anticipating, you can start preparing the supporting “ingredients.” As the Bible reminds us, “To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Waiting isn’t idle time—it’s preparation time.

As the saying goes, “Favour is when preparedness meets opportunity.” The absence of what you’re waiting for doesn’t justify idleness. Instead, it’s an invitation to get busy—but busy with things that position you for the arrival of that opportunity.

One day, on our way back to Rosebank from Pretoria, my friend Ebun and I missed the train. When we arrived at the subway, it was eerily empty—the passengers, including some of our colleagues, had already left. With nothing else to do, we had to wait. I was on the verge of getting anxious, pacing and checking the time, when Ebun, ever the optimist, said, “Let’s use this opportunity to create content.” Being a content creator, she turned what could have been a frustrating moment into an exciting one. She explored the subway with fresh eyes, snapping pictures and recording videos, turning the quiet space into a creative playground for her social media pages. What felt like a setback to me became an opportunity for her. It was a reminder that sometimes, the moments we dread can be opportunities to see things differently and make the most of where we are.

If I’m preparing jollof rice and waiting for it to cook, my time is best spent chopping the vegetables, frying the sauce, or setting the table—tasks that directly align with making the jollof rice. It wouldn’t make sense to start prepping ogbono soup ingredients while neglecting what’s needed for the jollof. Even if I plan to make soup later, my immediate focus should remain on the jollof, ensuring every step is ready for the dish at hand.

In the same way, while you wait for God to reveal the next step in your journey, focus on what aligns with His plans for your life. As Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.”

So, this year, whether you’re bursting with energy or feeling stuck in uncertainty, remember that the waiting season is a time to prepare. Focus on the work that aligns with your purpose, and trust that in due time, it will all come together beautifully—just like a well-cooked meal.

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🍿 Things that I have enjoyed recently:

• I watched a Netflix drama “Savage Beauty”, and I picked a couple of things about identity, colourism, and how unresolved grief and rage can sometimes lead to revenge.