Food All Over

We are a few days into Lent, and I figured I better blog about it. :)

For Lent this year, I am participating in the Daniel Fast. It is based on Daniel chapter 1. Although one can choose the strictness of diet, I am going pretty hard core. I can only consume vegetables, fruit, beans and lentils, brown rice, whole wheat flour, and water. I have to read all labels to make sure there are no hidden sugars or chemicals which I can or cannot pronounce. I am allowing soy milk into the diet- not for drinking but as an additive to cooking certain meals. (I do want to stay healthy.) I am also going to drink coffee during my overnight shifts. I tried once without it, and that didn't work to well. Otherwise, I'm sticking to my fast/diet.

The first day was rough. I was hungry all day. However, I didn't have much time to cook meals, so I kind of scrounged for quick things to eat. That didn't really work. The second and third day were much better. I took the time to prepare a meal and thoroughly enjoyed it. I also bought whole wheat flour, so I can have some sort of bread like addition to my meals. (I was kind of surprised at how much bread I ate and used as a quick meal or addition to a meal. Boy, did I miss it quick.) :)

So now at the beginning of day 4, I feel I may have already realized an important lesson in this time of Lent. Before Lent, I would scrounge through the fridge and pantry to find the quickest thing to quench my hunger or craving whether or not it was particularly healthy was a second factor. After inhaling whatever I whipped up, I'd return to my project, my movie, or whatever else took my attention (if I had ever left it seeing as the tv is on wheels and I can turn it to face the kitchen/dining room). Now while I am preparing my meal, I have purposely left the tv off, so I am left alone with my thoughts and the food. And it has been so relaxing and freeing (even in washing the dishes afterwards). I have tried to think about God, myself with God, and an upcoming sermon because it is Lent, but even in the fact that I have allowed myself time to think has kind of opened my "eyes" to the rush that I put myself through every other day.

I am sure Lent will bring some struggles as I start really craving something quick or cheesy (no dairy til Easter), and I already have experienced some other bodily reactions. Yet as of day 4, I am grateful for this opportunity... which is kind of going hand in hand with a book that I am reading in a book club that I have recently begun/joined. The book is called Food and Faith: a theology of eating by Norman Wirzba. I am only on chapter 2, but I already recommend it. And my thoughts on that will be in another post. :)

Expired in 2007, Last worn in 1983

My nerd side of me would like to flesh out this issue/topic more in a perhaps academic sort of way, but this is at least a beginning. :)

As you may or may not know, one of my jobs is as a houseparent at Mother's Refuge, a house for homeless pregnant teenagers, in Independence, MO. I work two overnight shifts, so besides bed checks and one or two hulu shows, I clean and sort... a lot. Two big projects have been the clothes closet and the food pantry. We have gotten so many donations in both which is why I have had to reorganize the two rooms.

While I am completely and utterly glad that people are donating (and this is in no way to discourage people from donating), I noticed a couple things that caused me to question how or what we donate. In the clothes closet, there were several cute tops and warm sweaters. There were also some shirts with holes and jeans that might not have been worn since I was in diapers (that would be the 80s). :) The ultimate find was a pair of stretch neon green slacks.

I'm not sure what year those were acceptable, but I can nearly guarantee none of the girls will be choosing those to wear to school, or at all, not only because of the color but also the awkward box-y shape. In the food pantry, I naturally found several expired items. We have gotten lots of donations, and sometimes new items get placed in front of the old ones- never allowing some cans or boxes to be used. However, while putting some of the new donations away, there were a few already expired items (some within this month and sadly some from some time last year). Furthermore, some of the canned goods were great- corn, green beans, beans, and so on. Yet, there were some bizarre items as well- pickled beets for example.

And so comes my rough draft conclusion... :)

-In the Old Testament, God required the Israelites to bring the best of their best for the sacrifice. Depending on their economic standing, it could have been a lamb or a bird, but it was to be spotless and healthy.

-In the New Testament, Jesus said that whatever you do unto the least of these you also do unto me (Matthew 25- sheep and goats story).

-So while I am grateful that people are donating to those in need, I wonder why sometimes it seems that we are scrounging in the back of our closet or cleaning out our pantries in order to fill the box at whatever location for the clothes/food drive.

-Of course, some will say, "beggars can't be choosers" or "at least they have something." But I don't think such people would say that to Jesus' face, so why do we say that to our fellow bearers of God's image even if they are on the fringe or outcasts of society?

With all of this running around my brain, I wonder.. what if I chose my favorite shirt or dress to donate? What if I spent less on myself or added to my budget so that I go grocery shopping specifically for others?

Uprooting Factories Upstream

Currently, there is a conference taking place at NNU in Nampa, Idaho. I desperately wanted to go because the theme of the conference is a passion of mine. It's called Cup of Cold Water, and it's focused on Christians in compassionate ministries. Well, I couldn't afford the trip out there, but fortunately, there is free webcasting. So that is what I'm doing. Not the same, but close enough. :)

The last plenary session this evening was with Jeff Carr. He's super involved in bringing about systemic changes politically and also through the love and grace of Christ. He had so many amazing things to say, and I'm bubbled over with excitement about it all. Here's a story he told during his lecture that I just needed to share (and felt it was a little too long as a FB status update). :)

'So how do we move from compassionate ministries to prophetic witness (saying something when it's wrong) to social justice? Imagine you are in a river, and you are pulling out bodies. And after so long, you are becoming tired pulling out bodies and trying to resuscitate them over and over again. Then you realize to look upstream and see what is causing all of these people to get sick and fall in the river. You discover a factory polluting the earth and people. Now, you wouldn't stay in the river picking up bodies knowing the factory is upstream. THAT change is what it means to move from compassionate ministries to prophetic witness to social justice!'

Jeff later added that the church is still to be involved in personal transformations, but he also believes there is more in which to participate. For the bigger understanding of the Good News is not just spiritual but more holistic... it is shalom.

Amen, and amen.