"When we make food an integral part of our lives and our homes, it becomes part of our theology. We are connected to our food- cultivating it, preserving it, and persevering it, and preparing it. We are nurturers instead of consumers. This shift affects our relationship to the Giver of our daily bread. We become co-creators with God and stewards of God's garden....We are what eat- physically and spirituality. Doris Longacre states that "change is an act of faith." Our interaction with food will express our faith."
-Forward from the More with Less Cookbook (amazing, amazing cookbook that i HIGHLY recommend reading and experimenting with!! it is our house bible in some ways....)
oh hey there!
first of all- 14 followers on this blog? go you guys. thanks for reading/pretending to read (hehe)- i feel so loved! i hope everyone is doing well as classes are starting and post-labor-day-getting-ready-for-fall-ness is starting in full swing. i think about each of you throughout my day and am keeping yall in my prayers ;)
so thanks for reading that long quote at the top. i freaking love it. how cool that we can understand God in a new dimension not only by the food that we eat and taste, but through the decisions we make with our food that influences how we connect to others and our world. there is a lot of emergent information coming out these days about how Americans overeat, how we have obese children, how we still have hunger on our hands. but do any of us actually look in the mirror and ask how am i part of this problem? i mean, its a hard question to ask when the cheesy chicken casserole dinner and chocolate torte dessert just tastes so darn good. its sooo easy to hide behind the food that takes away our stress, that provides us with instant gratification, that connects us to others in a social way. but the thing about food is that I believe we miss out on the lesson that God wants us to learn about His love. How many times does the bible use food as a reference to Christ? The fruit of the spirit, being part of the vine, the mustard seed, fish and bread for a huge crowd, and lets not forget the last supper. i mean- what better way to communicate to us dumb humans how amazing and compelling the Lord is than through our stomachs. God got it alll right there.
so i am on a mission this year. as i have already experienced in my first couple of weeks as an LVCer...i really do want my decisions to reflect simplicity and sustainability. in training my taste buds to ween off processed sugar and fat. i used to just eat and eat all the time whether i was hungry or not. now, i eat food that is good for me when i need it. i savor my food and take my dear old time when i eat it. last night, i enjoyed a bowl of vanilla yogurt and locally produced honey and spent 15 minutes just spending time with my food and reflecting on how God had blessed me with the chance to eat the literal milk and honey. i thought about how sometimes, we just shovel food into our mouths without really thinking what we are doing. instead, i slowed down and took the time to savor and to feed my spirit. i think you get the picture.
in working around food all day at work and seeing how much food is a form of social change for the elderly and those with HIV/AIDS, i have begun a journey of appreciation for what food can do as an extension of life. it is an extension of community, it is an extension of God. it is an extension of love. i freaking love food. and all of the aforementioned items. so its basically a win win situation. anywho- i am off to bed so i can get up nice and early tomorrow to run a pick up center down in Tacoma- and i am soo excited. excited to share love/life/food with some truly amazing people.
goodnight yall- sweet dreams and sweet eating!!!
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