30 November 2010
How We Eat - Practice 2
Meals building community with family and friends: We have become so busy these days that we must find ways to multitask everything. It is difficult to sit down to eat without doing something else. At least once during this week, take a shot at sitting down with friends and family just to eat. Set aside an hour or more for everyone just to enjoy the act of eating together. Do not waver from this time even if you finish eating before time is up. This is fantastic time to build community. Take time to slow the meal down, don’t just woof it all down and be done. Pause between bites to talk and share. Let the meal last a while. Think about how many times in the gospels food or a meal is involved. There is so much ministry to be had around the table. Share food with each other. Consider your blessings. Look at each person around the table and relish the fact that you are children of God and you have been fed today.
22 November 2010
How We Eat - Practice 1
Spend some time on your blessing.
Often, for me, when I sit down to eat, I go right into shoving my face full of food. I don’t think a lot about the food I’m eating and what it took for it to get on my plate. Food is not as much the centerpiece of each day as it may have been in the past. Much of work for humans used to be food related—think about it.
Today, though, we don’t have to think of food outside of making sure we eat it. By doing this we run the risk of not appreciating and thanking God for one of the most important things in our daily lives.
So, try this: At least once a day, think about everything that had to happen for the food to make it on your plate when you sit down to eat. Think of the animal or plant that lost its life, the worker who harvested, the machinery and manpower needed to deliver the food, the cook who prepared the food—take all of this in and realize how much happened so that you could have this meal you are about to eat. Think about how it will keep your body going longer for all the things you need to and love to do. Be grateful for this incredible thing. Thank God piece by piece and be humbled by all the ways you are given sustenance.
Often, for me, when I sit down to eat, I go right into shoving my face full of food. I don’t think a lot about the food I’m eating and what it took for it to get on my plate. Food is not as much the centerpiece of each day as it may have been in the past. Much of work for humans used to be food related—think about it.
Today, though, we don’t have to think of food outside of making sure we eat it. By doing this we run the risk of not appreciating and thanking God for one of the most important things in our daily lives.
So, try this: At least once a day, think about everything that had to happen for the food to make it on your plate when you sit down to eat. Think of the animal or plant that lost its life, the worker who harvested, the machinery and manpower needed to deliver the food, the cook who prepared the food—take all of this in and realize how much happened so that you could have this meal you are about to eat. Think about how it will keep your body going longer for all the things you need to and love to do. Be grateful for this incredible thing. Thank God piece by piece and be humbled by all the ways you are given sustenance.
16 November 2010
November Focus: How We Eat
Thanksgiving is coming up. It's become a holiday most known for eating, and likely overeating. It also kicks off the grand holiday eating season for many people who will have parties and other gatherings that center on food. We've already talked a few months ago about what we eat, but how we eat can be an expression of faith too.
Often in our culture how we eat doesn't seem very holy. We're busy people, and we usually grab food on the go, eat in our cars, and shovel food down our mouths in order to keep going to our next destination. Consequently, food ceases to be anything special or in any way sacred. It is fuel or nutrients - something to be consumed, but not savored. Such a view can cause us to totally dismiss a relationship of thanks with our food. In many ways this way of eating is radically different from our ancestors who had a close connection with what they ate because, for the most part, they raised their own food or hunted (for necessity, not for sport).
Of course whether or not we share our meals with others has a large impact on us. Many studies have shown that eating together as a family can make a tremendous difference in the lives of children and teenagers. It's mostly common sense - socializing and connecting around food is basic to who we are. I would dare say no one ever wants to eat alone. We would all prefer to share a nice meal with others.
In the Biblical worldview, how you eat, and particularly who you eat with is of tremendous importance. One of the key charges against Jesus by his critics (or opponents) was that he ate with the "wrong" people: "And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, 'This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them'" (Luke 15:2).
Think about the last great meal you had - not in terms of the food, but in terms of the fellowship and friends you shared it with. Pray about eating with those who may have no one else to eat with.
Often in our culture how we eat doesn't seem very holy. We're busy people, and we usually grab food on the go, eat in our cars, and shovel food down our mouths in order to keep going to our next destination. Consequently, food ceases to be anything special or in any way sacred. It is fuel or nutrients - something to be consumed, but not savored. Such a view can cause us to totally dismiss a relationship of thanks with our food. In many ways this way of eating is radically different from our ancestors who had a close connection with what they ate because, for the most part, they raised their own food or hunted (for necessity, not for sport).
Of course whether or not we share our meals with others has a large impact on us. Many studies have shown that eating together as a family can make a tremendous difference in the lives of children and teenagers. It's mostly common sense - socializing and connecting around food is basic to who we are. I would dare say no one ever wants to eat alone. We would all prefer to share a nice meal with others.
In the Biblical worldview, how you eat, and particularly who you eat with is of tremendous importance. One of the key charges against Jesus by his critics (or opponents) was that he ate with the "wrong" people: "And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, 'This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them'" (Luke 15:2).
Think about the last great meal you had - not in terms of the food, but in terms of the fellowship and friends you shared it with. Pray about eating with those who may have no one else to eat with.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)