Not one, but two meals today were acidic. At breakfast after church, on a rainy cold day, I meant to order potato pancakes (even then, that would have been starchy) and ordered German pancakes instead. A little fatter then crepes and made with the chef’s mother’s recipe from the Old Country, they came topped with powdered sugar, a small pat of butter and blackberry preserves, which I spread judiciously while savoring each bite! If I’m going to sin, I might as well enjoy it, right?
I had a very small portion of bruschetta, sautéed eggplant, tomato and mozzarella cheese at lunch and was able to substitute herbal tea for the temptation to have a glass of white wine while my cousin had a martini. Dinner was a mix of almonds, grapefruit, and a banana.
A friend suggested yesterday that the distinct basement of the spiritual life is worrying about food. In the context of the discussion it seemed inappropriate to tell him that I’m not worrying about it, I’m treating it as a sacred subject, worthy of considering and writing about.
However, something much more important is troubling me tonight: human life. The United Nations World Food Program (WPF) estimates that one billion people will die of starvation this year. The WPF is trying to raise six billion dollars to feed them. So far, around two billion dollars has been raised.
Equally important, I feel, is helping people to make sustainable agriculture (SA). It surely can’t accomplish long-term goals to feed people unless there can be imparted some realistic hope for the future. Along these lines, one charity that is exceptionally worthy is The Heifer Foundation. This world-wide group provides whatever animals people in a small community need and are used to, a flock of chickens here, a water buffalo that can help cultivate land or a herd of goats to supply milk and fertilizer, or a hive of honey bees in another area.
Whether our personal contributions are large or small, each one is part of a sacred call, from beyond ourselves. For instance, tomorrow our church Vestry is considering a proposal for funding a “Dinner Kitchen,” an evening meal once a month for disadvantaged folks here. It’s an outgrowth of our new work with the Food Bank, helping the Community Church by making a lunch once a month for 50-70 participants. The other churches here that have large enough congregations also are participating. It may not seem like much, but I know that the food, and the cheer with which it’s served, has a multiplier effect, helping people to help themselves.
Richard Bach (Jonathan Livingston Seagull), in his delightful new book Hypnotizing Maria, considers the beliefs that we hold without knowing it, the beliefs that can change as we acknowledge and challenge them. For me, one persistent belief has been that I can't do much to help others. That belief is changing and, I pray, will continue to do so.
No comments:
Post a Comment