Mmmm....I love dark chocolate. I love sitting down with a proper cup of black coffee, dark roasted. I love great food, and almost missed a plane flight once trying to get some pizza from a particular coal-fired oven in NYC. What should I make for supper? Indian food? Italian? Thai? Chicken soup?
When I use the word “love” to describe how I feel about food, I know that I really should reserve it for talking about the people I’m closest to. But, given how much time and attention I devote to what I eat, “love” feels like an accurate descriptor for food, too.
As someone who works to serve the poor every day, there is tension in my selfish pursuit of gastronomic pleasure. Don’t get me wrong – I think one of the amazing things about Jesus’ first recorded miracle was the setting....He didn't feed thousands of hungry people--He made wine at a wedding feast.
I think God was saying something about celebration, about appropriate extravagance. I think this is an amazing gift to humanity: we are created with the ability to appreciate a decadent dessert or a great party.
But, my interest in food has a downside....When most of my day is spent thinking about me — my wants, my desires, my preferences – I quickly lose my ability to care about others.
How would you define your relationship with food? Does eating simply change your perspective?
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