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Daily Question, January 8

How might I experience my meal when I truly ponder the people, animals, plants, and weather whose efforts brought me this nourishment?

  • Christina

    Wow, does this sound like Brother D.!

  • Carol

    I attended a retreat many years ago and abell would sound at meal time to remind the retreat leader, Macrina Wieiderkher, to release us to eat our meal.. I shall never forget her words at the close of one of the sessions. She said, “Before you take a bite of your dinner, look at the food on your plate and remember that it died that you might live.” When preparing my food, I often give thanks to it for gracing my table.

  • Barbara Morris

    It must be remarkable to cultivate your own food and really know where it came from. I feel very detached from my meals in that way and no matter how strong my imagination is, I can’t really fathom the work and nurturing that goes into it. I am grateful, but not grateful enough, I’m sure.

    • Aine

      This spring, try growing some lettuces or mesclun in a windowbox. They are quite easy from seed and could connect you more with your noshies. ???? If you decide to try it, feel free to holler for hints. I taught adult ed gardening classes for eight years, so I love that stuff! ????????????????????????????

      • Barbara Morris

        Aine, thank you so much! I may take you up on that because I am very new to growing vegetables!

        • Aine

          I would be honored to help you get started. Cool factoid: lettuce seed will germinate even when temps are in the thirties fahrenheit! It takes it longer, of course, but it will do it. I have often had early lettuces from ones I let go to seed the previous fall. Gardening is both humbling and empowering!

  • Kevin

    In the past I have attended weekend retreats that use this concept as a theme, and I’ve used it also with youth retreats that I have led over the years, so this is something I ponder quite often. I think most often about all the workers; farmers, field hands, ranchers, fishermen and all those who help to bring what will be nourishment from its source to my table. There is so much to be grateful for, even the ability to buy the food that keeps me alive. Many cannot.

    • Aine

      If everyone ate with a consciousness of all those through whose hands their food had to pass, there might be more compassion and gratitude for the migrant workers who are such a vital link in the chain. We live in an area where migrant workers come for harvest. Some of the farmers have built temporary accommodation for them, some better than others. One dear man treats his workers so well that many stay and wind up as full time valued employees and friends. It is easier to make the connection wh...

      If everyone ate with a consciousness of all those through whose hands their food had to pass, there might be more compassion and gratitude for the migrant workers who are such a vital link in the chain. We live in an area where migrant workers come for harvest. Some of the farmers have built temporary accommodation for them, some better than others. One dear man treats his workers so well that many stay and wind up as full time valued employees and friends. It is easier to make the connection when you see the faces of those who picked your fruit!

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      • Kevin

        So very, very True, Aine. And in the US where I live, our present US Administration has painted a consistent negative image of migrant workers that is totally unfair, false, and at times cruel.

        • Aine

          I agree, Kevin. So often I find myself aghast at the things that are being spouted. So much unnecessary and cruel fear! How can it be forgotten that ALL of us came from immigrants at some point. Even the Native Americans supposedly came over the Bering Strait.

          Where we are now it is a much redder state politically than where I spent most of my life. In Maryland, even the earthworms are blue! I have to watch what I say and to whom sometimes.

          I have friends who work with the immigrant popu...

          I agree, Kevin. So often I find myself aghast at the things that are being spouted. So much unnecessary and cruel fear! How can it be forgotten that ALL of us came from immigrants at some point. Even the Native Americans supposedly came over the Bering Strait.

          Where we are now it is a much redder state politically than where I spent most of my life. In Maryland, even the earthworms are blue! I have to watch what I say and to whom sometimes.

          I have friends who work with the immigrant population in their area of NC. She taught ESL for many years and said it is heartbreaking to have a child look up at her with huge teary eyes and ask, “Why do they hate us?” When we were downsizing our gardens, we sent boxes of daylilies to her to hand out to some immigrant families she knows who had just gotten their first homes. They loved to garden and had no extra money for decorating their yards, so what we did not want to discard became great joy for another. A win-win! I always told her to translate my notes welcoming them to life and homeownership here. I want some of those faces to shine with the knowledge of love and welcome. ????

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  • Eva Liu

    with care. with appreciation. with gratitude.

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