Tuesday, May 5, 2020
A lot of us have taken to “comfort eating” during this corona-crisis. Although I may be getting out to walk more regularly, I’m also still in my house more. The refrigerator and pantry invite me over for frequent visits, and my clothes are suggesting that I’ve been too accommodating of their invitations. I’ve noticed how mindless grazing only pretends to comfort me—because the hunger I feel is not so much for food as it is for a sense of peace and clarity about the future. I’m trying to remind myself to feast on the Word of God—whether in Scripture, or in a quiet moment of prayer as I create attentive space for God to speak in me (as often through memories, or song lyrics, or poetry as through new thoughts)—instead of consuming food I’m neither truly tasting or enjoying as I’m spiritually grasping for something to satisfy.
Thank you to Sarah May, who offered up this line from a Robert Frost poem, along with her accompanying reflection on it:
“Here are your waters and your watering place. Drink and be whole again beyond confusion.” For me, it relates to how I want our children to feel about our home. It is also how feel about church.
Her reflection reminded me of the passage in Isaiah Chapter 55 that invites us to the Abundant Life in faith. (Click on the link for the entire chapter, which contains even more food for reflection.)
Isaiah 55 (click for entire chapter): An Invitation to Abundant Life
Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
Prayer: Giver of all good gifts, help us to feast appreciatively on all that you have spread before us and around us, even (especially) in those moments when we perhaps have less than we once did. Amen.
Music: “Come to the Table” (click link) by Michael Card