Closer To Heaven
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By Lindsey Painter 24 July 2018 “Moderation in all things” is a phrase my mother taught me. And I believe it applies to most things in life. Eating healthy, for example. I believe that most of the food I consume should be healthy, but it’s okay for me to have a chocolate truffle sometimes. There’s […]
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During a retreat time together, a group of my women friends started discussing nutrition. We had been dividing meal preparation for a few days and were aware of some of our group members’ food choices. One person was almost a vegetarian, one avoided sugar, one was a fan of a protein-rich diet, and I was somewhere in the “dabble in almond-meal recipes but still require dark chocolate and wild salmon” zone. Several people wandered into the sanctity of the “only calories count” discussion.
As the protein/paleo member recounted her research on saturated fat, she talked about problems in her progressive community. During the spring Earth Day activities, a nearby health fair became dominated by vegan advocates. The vegans wouldn’t allow representatives from any group that ate or used animal products. My grass-fed beef friend was disturbed that such people wielded so much power and still refused to listen to science data and hard facts. These were people who often considered tolerance in other areas of life. Will they publicly shun or ban commerce with anyone wearing leather, eating at steak restaurants or keeping chickens? Will they go so far as to soon demand that all domestic animals and pets be returned to the wild?
We all shared concerns about the anxiety and fear that seems to provide the basis for much of post-modern nutrition militia. I am aware that food is one area of personal control. Some people restrict food in an effort to exert the only control they seem to possess. Some people eat to fill emotional emptiness, boredom or soothe loss. People can channel their personal anxiety into vegetarianism or caveman diets with equal unbalance. When aspects of the internal or external world seems doomed to failure or threat, food can become a comforting addiction or a sustainable distraction. Perhaps even the symptom of a loss of faith.
It’s a natural desire to share a food plan or diet that has resulted in exhilarating weight loss or improved health. Others may welcome our knowledge and experience as enriching and healing. Or they may find their own answers for their bodies and families. We often want to find more of “our people,” that enjoy a similar worldview. However, when our choices result in a critical self-righteous attitude presented with great fervor–we lose friends and credibility. The underlying message seems to be that dietary noncompliance means you are “less than” or ignorant. Most of us over the age of 50 have lived long enough to remember the debunking of many diets, products, and medications during our lifetimes. Something may help you function at age 25 but not at age 60.
When nutrition and food is combined with religion or spirituality, the outcome for relationships seem to extend into eternity. So we get concerned or preachy. Those of us who believe that our bodies are a gift and not a mistake, get serious about stewardship. We also appreciate that the body and spirit are a holistic unit. Yet a good helping of humility seems wise in a time of burgeoning science regarding individual metabolism, genetics and culture. The Creator has blessed us with a great capacity for uniqueness and ways to respond to him.
Being “right” may be unsustainable–ultimately leading to a table for one.
Karen Spruill writes from Orlando, Florida.
Questions for personal journaling or group discussion:
1. Find the video of “Babette’s Feast” (1987), and watch with a friend or group for discussion.
2. Read Deuteronomy 14:1-21. What do you see as the principles of good health behind God’s nutrition instructions to the Israelites? How might culture have impacted God’s words to them?
Written by Karen Spruill
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I believe that gardening was inserted into human DNA from the beginning.
It all started long ago in a beautiful garden that God created (Genesis1-3). The place was so amazing that God made people to enjoy being with him in the garden. Unfortunately, when the people stopped trusting God, the result was thorns and thistles and hard work to grow food. God wanted to restore his people to a land flowing with great abundance (Exodus 3:8), but they kept messing up and giving their allegiance to worthless gods. When Jesus appeared to show them God’s love in human skin, he often went into his favorite garden to connect with God in Heaven (Luke 21:37; 22:39). When those who love God are again dwelling with God in a new heaven and earth, a healing tree with 12 crops of fruit will stand in the midst of that city (Revevation 21:2). Sounds like we will be in the garden again.
Fast forward or reverse to my parents who always grew a garden, and I was involved. Each spring Dad plowed up a space of land, and we planted, then hoed and weeded, picked produce and froze or canned the extras. That was busy work for six months out of the year–before the raking leaves and shoveling snow set in. Yet I knew where most of our food originated, and I knew what it should taste like and how vulnerable we all were to weather and pests.
This year I have returned to gardening and I can’t believe how much money I am spending for the privilege. I ordered some raised corrugated metal planting beds. Then I needed help to create the new garden. So I hired someone to take out hedges to make more room in the backyard. Then I invited my brother, the experienced gardener, to fly down to put the metal beds together and create an irrigation system. We bought many bags of dirt to fill and packed my car full on several trips from the store. Later I purchased some plants, flowers, and seeds. I sprinkled soap chips around the beds to discourage rodents (Irish Spring was suggested). I have been watering in between our lawn irrigation days, thinning some of the veggies, and plucking nasty looking leaves.
Last week I bought some vegetable fertilizer since the peas, radishes and carrots look wimpy and pale. I need to continue spraying copper on the squash, pepper and tomatoes for mildew or some other crud. And I have some Seven or Tea Tree oil to sprinkle or spray on veggies if it appears that bugs are chewing. Why am I banging my head against the botanical wall?
I have grandchildren and I want them to know the gardening heritage along with recognizing food fresh from the earth. The oldest boy helped me pick strawberries and blueberries last year, and he enjoys plucking low fruit from the lemon tree. He got to taste a few grape tomatoes from one plant last spring and he wanted more.
So I thought I would expand what the backyard can offer. Important life lessons might even appear. Actually weather, bugs, diseases and squirrels are on my mind. It certainly is easier to go to the grocery store or farmer’s market. Yet watching plants peek up from the dirt, unfurl, blossom and turn into food is the magic I desire. And nothing tastes as good. Which leads me to think of Jesus–Creator and the original gardener. He is also the sustaining vine and we are the branches. “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine,” (John 15:4, NIV).
Gardeners know the care and concern that goes into helping plants grow or mature. It’s a time-consuming, expensive and vulnerable occupation. Waiting for results and savoring the outcome are divine rewards.
Questions for personal journaling or group discussion:
1. What seed has God planted in you that is slowly maturing?
2. To what vine are you currently attached? Who or what is nurturing you?
Written by Karen Spruill
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Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Answers for Me.
I’ve never awakened in the morning and thought to myself, “Wow, I could really go for an apple!” I can honestly report that I’ve never experienced a strange craving for broccoli, carrots, kale, spinach, cantaloupe, kiwi, blueberries, or any other healthy food when I open my eyes in the morning. The closest I’ve ever come to desiring something good for me when I first get up is being thirsty for a glass of water.
Judge me if you must, but my cravings usually don’t land on the side of “healthy” and “good for you.” I have, however, done battle in the past with a strong desire to gobble a raspberry jelly donut and a fresh cup of Joe. No amount of shaming by well-meaning health conscious people makes those craving go away.
I’ve always known that there are certain edibles that are excellent for one’s health, and others that clearly don’t add much value. I seem to crave food from the categories that aren’t particularly healthy, and there appears to be very little that I have discovered that has caused these cravings to subside in a substantial, life-altering way. I’ve read articles and books about it, I’ve watched video clips of buff older men who claim to have finally conquered the “battle of the bulge,’ and I’ve heaped self-loathing statements on myself until I’m exhausted.
“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do” (Romans 7:15, NKJV).
When I first looked at Romans 7, I could’ve sworn that the author had been peeking over my shoulder and was describing my unfortunate and pitiful battles at ridding myself of food cravings. I have always wanted to do better, but… “Boy, could I eat an entire cheese pizza right now!”
“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25, KJV).
Victory over any unhealthy desire in my life has never been an “arrival”…it has always been a journey. I have discovered that eating better doesn’t necessarily mean that I won’t get cravings. I now eat an apple when I wake up…but I often still think about a raspberry jelly donut. God is helping me, and step by faltering step I’m learning to walk beside Him despite my constant cravings.
Written by Michael Temple
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Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Answers for Me.
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