Moaning, Complaining & Monte Cristo Sandwiches . . .

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13

Many years ago I was in a Bible study with a wise teacher who asked us to ponder what we really wanted. She asked the question until it was almost uncomfortable, waiting for us to conjure up big houses, new cars, the perfect job or husband or children, a thinner waistline, prestige, fame, fortune, trips around the world. The key was that we had to really want it. Once we were all settled on something, she quietly said that she hoped we would get it, whatever it was.

After a few moments of silence, she repeated that she hoped we would get what we wanted, because once we had it, we would realize that whatever ‘it’ was, it would not satisfy. It would not be enough. It would not bring contentment, ‘it’ would just morph into the next ‘it’ we craved, needed, and felt we had to have to be happy.

She was correct. Wanting something and getting it, usually just leads to the next something we want. And the next. And the next. Life can be boiled down to a series of cravings and desires that we pursue until we have them, and move on to the next desire. We have insatiable appetites for the next thing.

We are not exactly discontented, or are we? I find it hard to walk the tightrope of goals and dreams balancing myself with the bar of contentment. I grew up not too far from Niagara Falls and the story of Charles Blondin walking a tightrope over the Niagara gorge pushing a wheelbarrow speaks to me loud and clear. It can be hard enough to balance on the tightrope of life; pushing this wheelbarrow of ‘wants’ can knock me off balance into the river below.

Paul and my Bible study teacher make a case for learning contentment now, just as I am, wherever I am, no matter what dreams and goals I may be working toward. My contentment needs to begin currently and in the state I am in, not when something else happens, or is accomplished, or changes.

Paul had every reason to moan and complain. The list of hardships he experienced; shipwrecks, beatings, stoneings, and nearly drowning, to name a few, would certainly send me into a state of discontentment. On the other hand, he also had a few reasons to rejoice. He had audiences with important people, saw many people converted to faith in Jesus, experienced God in a miraculous way, had many friends who cared for him. Paul could have acted like a yo-yo when it came to contentment; either up or down based on circumstance. Instead he explains that he “learned, in whatever situation, to be content”.

Contentment cannot be based on circumstance or it will be as fleeting as the wispy clouds I can see from my window. Within seconds they float and change and are gone. I had the privilege of hearing one of my daughters give a devotional for a ladies group last week. She spoke on Psalm 27, “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” She recounted 2022, a year that started with her world neatly in order, full of promise and expectation, a year that ended with one sister receiving a cancer diagnosis, another sister having a miscarriage, and her father enduring a chain saw accident. She explained that the Lord was every bit as much her light at the end of 2022 as he had been at the beginning. She was learning contentment in all circumstances.

Contentment is not fake cheeriness, hypocritical smiles or denying real feelings. Sometimes life just sucks. I tried to come up with a better term than sucks, but lets face it, that sentence is real at some time or other for most of us! We may not face the circumstances Paul faced, but our situations are real to us and every bit as traumatic and full of turmoil and stress and sadness. Contentment is not pretending the hard stuff away, it is trusting that God is still God. That He really is our light and our salvation. That He is sufficient for all of our needs, and has a better plan for us than what we think we want. That He actually knows far better what is good for us.

So how about you? (I’m asking myself this question too!) Are you yo-yoing through life, content as long as you get your way? Content when things are easy or pleasant, moaning and complaining when things are hard or messy? Have you learned, in whatever situation you are in, to be content? To trust that God loves you and holds you in the palm of His hand, no matter how dire things appear?

Paul gives us the secret to his contentment, he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. It is leaning into our Lord that brings contentment and the ability to endure both amazingly wonderful and stupendously difficult earthly moments. He carries us and prepares us for the glory that lies ahead. Our contentment is not based on circumstances, but on trust in the God who loves us with an everlasting love. Rely on Him, turn to Him, follow Him, and you will find contentment.

Some foods bring comfort and contentment. For me a hot ham and cheese sandwich (actually just a hot cheese sandwich!) is soothing. I have spent the summer serving ham and cheese in several varieties. Today’s ham and cheese recipe variation is called a Monte Cristo. I first had a Monte Cristo at a Cheddars restaurant. At Cheddars, the Monte Cristo is deep fried and resembles an upscale, ham and cheese pancake deep fried, sprinkled with powdered sugar, dipped in raspberry preserves. It is decadent and still considered an entree’!

I searched for a non-deep fried variety of the sandwich and found the following, which has a greater resemblance to French Toast, filled with hot ham and melty cheese. This version is super simple to do at home, still delicious and slightly more nutritious. It has become a staple lunch offering at my home, and in fact one of my friends often requests this dish.

Monte Cristo Sandwiches

8 pieces sliced bread
4 extra large eggs
1/8 cup milk
8 pieces thin sliced ham
8 slices thin sliced havarti cheese, or cheese of your choice
1-2 Tbsp butter
seedless raspberry jam
confectionary sugar to sprinkle

Place four slices of bread on a clean surface. Top each slice with a piece of cheese, two pieces of ham and another piece of cheese. Top each with a slice of bread.

Using a rolling pin, flatten the sandwiches until the grain of the bread is tightly compacted. Cut crusts off the edges. Sandwiches will adhere, saturate with egg mixture, and cook better with crusts removed.

Crack eggs into a shallow dish. Whisk eggs with the milk.

Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Dip each sandwich in the egg mxture, as for French Toast. Transfer saturated sandwiches to the hot skillet and cook on each side until golden.