Soul Over Style

People often ask me, “Srpazan, what’s your favorite meal?” And without missing a beat, I say, “I just love a good cheeseburger.” Not a fancy five-course meal, not something with ingredients I can’t pronounce. Just a simple, juicy cheeseburger. That’s all it takes to make me happy.

Back in 2019, I moved to Armenia to serve as the Dean of the Gevorgyan Seminary. Then COVID arrived, and like so many of you, life came to a halt. Suddenly, we were homebound, finding new ways to live and connect. During those quiet months, I began to miss the simple things from life in America—one of them being a good cheeseburger.

So one day, I sat down next to my mother, opened YouTube, and said, “Let me show you how to make a burger.” Now, my mother—God bless her—can make traditional Armenian dishes like dolma and khash better than anyone I know. But a cheeseburger? That was unexplored territory.

There we were in the kitchen: mixing ingredients, shaping patties, following recipes, watching videos, laughing, learning. And when it was all done, her burger turned out incredible. Better than anything I’ve had at a restaurant. Better than anything off a menu. It was made at home, with love, and seasoned with joy.

Here’s the message I want to leave with: at the core of every burger is the patty. It doesn’t matter whether it’s dressed up with truffle aioli or wrapped in fast-food paper—what makes it good is what’s inside. And so it is with us. Beneath the layers of success or struggle, beneath the titles or troubles, God is looking at the essence of who we are.

Scripture says in 1 Samuel 16:7, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God isn’t impressed by your silver platter. He’s not discouraged by your brown paper bag. He’s looking for hearts seasoned with gratitude, humility, kindness, and faith. Hearts that have been shaped by His hands, pressed through life’s challenges, and still remain tender to His voice.

So the next time you feel small, simple, or overlooked, remember this: the power is not in the presentation—it’s in the patty. Keep your heart pure. Keep your joy alive. Keep your faith strong. And let your life be homemade, filled with love, and seasoned with joy.