You cause the grass to
grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the
earth, and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and
bread to strengthen the human heart.
Psalms 104:14-15
Yesterday, our meal at an Italian restaurant began with
wonderful fresh bread – very light with a fine texture and yeasty aroma –
accompanied by a good olive oil with herbs and garlic for dipping. (If you are
drooling, go ahead. That’s what I’m aiming for.) It certainly was not
the stuff of New Year’s resolutions to cut back calories. Rather, it was just delightful. We
couldn’t help but focus full attention on enjoying it. When the salad course
came, we said grace, but I think we already had voiced our thanksgiving in the
oohs and ahhs over the bread.
Maybe it’s helpful to envision God as a loving chef, who
places banquets of food, people, plants, animals, stars and so many other
wonders before us. Perhaps this Heavenly Chef is looking, as many cooks do, to
see a sign of pleasure on our parts. Do we catch the flavor, the beauty, the
intricacy of the gifts God places before us or the the love that goes into them?
It doesn’t take much to make a cook’s efforts worthwhile,
just an ooh or ahh or “Wow.” But first we have to stop to “taste and see that
the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)
God’s peace,
Katie
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