March hasn’t gone like I intended. Towards the beginning I got sick with one of those awful cold/sinus things that has still left this lingering cough even though I feel 100% better. Of course, now as the pollen forms, I have a feeling that the cough will be here to stay. That threw me off of my rice and beans and structured prayer routine that i had mapped out. I also had college students over a good bit since last week was their Spring break. I love college students. However, they can throw an old person’s schedule way off. I hate to say that I saw 3 AM more than I care to admit last week. In the end, I have no one to blame but myself. As much as I hate to say it, I generally like people and can be persuaded into spending more time with them. How I got to be this way, I don’t know, but I am and I love/hate it.
So, if I’m honest, I’m a bit of a failure when it comes to my plan to abstain from most foods and do the rice and beans thing. I’m a failure when it comes to praying for things that I don’t normally pray for. I can see it and I can admit it. Yet, I’m not going to beat myself up too much. I fail plenty, but I try not to waste it and this failure is no exception. I’m still learning more about food, myself, others and God. Though I didn’t stick to the plan, I was still aware of the effect of food on myself and others. Even though some of these things are simple and maybe obvious, and might even be things that I already “knew,” here’s some of what I’ve been learning.
1) Food has the power to bring people together. I’m a Southerner; I know this, however, I’ve been exploring it even more lately. Everyone has to eat and most people really like to eat. That’s something that, no matter where you’re from or what your background, we all have in common. When getting to know people or trying to understand others better, it’s good to start on common ground. Food equalizes us and opens doors. It gives us something to do in social situations and lowers guards.
I’ve also found that I can bond better with people while cooking than I can any other way. I like to teach and I like to learn. When you invite another person in, there’s always an opportunity for both. We bring our own backgrounds, perspectives and flavors to the table when we cook together.
2) Food can communicate. The amount of time, effort and attention to details that you put into a meal can say how much you care about someone. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the best tasting meal, but the intentions behind them. After all, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich made specifically for you by your loving 6-year-old child can mean more than any gourmet meal. On a subconscious level, we can also be saying to another person, “I care about your life and your survival.” Since food is essential to our survival, giving it communicates care for another’s livelihood.
3) My prayers are all over the place. I rarely have a hard time being earnest and honest with God, but I often have a hard time focusing. I’ve been known to literally get distracted by the squirrels in my backyard while praying. When there’s something I feel about strongly, I’m usually good at focusing for that time and talking and listening through business with God, however, if I can’t bring myself to some emotional place with something, I have a difficult time with it. This isn’t a good thing, since a lot of things are important no matter our feelings about them.
Those are just three points. I’m sure there are more, but that’s enough for now. It’s time to take this failure, pull myself up by my bootstraps and carry on.
