We’ve all heard the story about turning stones into bread—but have you heard the one about turning stones into soup?
In Stone Soup, Marcia Brown tells the French folktale of three devilishly clever soldiers traveling through the countryside in need of lodging and a meal. As the trio approach a village, the peasants scurry about hiding their food: “Soldiers are always hungry. But we have little enough for ourselves.”
The famished visitors go door to door but find neither food nor welcome—only plenty of excuses. Disappointed, the soldiers announce, “We have asked you for food, and you have no food. Well, then we’ll have to make stone soup.”
Soup from stones? That would be quite something. The townspeople can’t resist their curiosity.
The soldiers build a fire and call for a large cauldron. The people are happy to oblige. As they bring water to a boil, they call for three round stones. Stirring, they muse, “Stones like these generally make good soup. But oh, if there were carrots, it would be much better.” Suddenly, one of the ladies recalls a few carrots left in the bottom of her bin. She runs home and returns with her apron spilling over.
One by one, the soldiers hint at other ingredients that would make for royal stone soup—cabbage, potatoes, beef, barley, milk, salt, and pepper. As the peasants eagerly loot their cellars for hidden supplies, they marvel to themselves: “A rich man’s soup—and all from a few stones. It seemed like magic!”
Tables are dragged into the town square, torches lit, and music played. The people feast, dance, and sing all night. “Never had there been such a feast. Never had the peasants tasted such soup. And fancy, made from stones!”
Stone Soup is a picture of us. We all wander this world as peasants. We have little time, little money, little space in our schedules, little energy. “Everyone is always so hungry, but we have little enough for ourselves!”
But we have a God who teaches us the power of making stone soup. When we horde, we starve. When we share, we feast (Acts 4:32-35).
It’s a transformative recipe: the magic of hospitality. And as the Spirit gently—cleverly—pries open our hearts and our hands, we find a fellowship with God and one another that eternally satisfies: “We shall never go hungry, now that we know how to make soup from stones.”
Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate the first anniversary of The Hutch! We had so much fun baking for our friends and neighbors this past year, sharing our lives and our passions with you. We feel like the momentum is only just beginning to roll as more and more people are discovering with delight our little hutch every week. We look forward to filling our little corner of God’s kingdom with more pies and goodies!