Thoughts on Spirituality and Food

As we know, most religions have food laws, or dietary practices that are part of their spiritual and religious practices.  Like keeping kosher for Jewish people and eating foods that are halal for Muslims.  As well, many Hindus and Buddhists are vegetarian.  

This is not done "just because".   These dietary practices are for one's well being and health, which is a very important part of one's spirituality.

In fact, most religions do have food laws and special dietary practices, except Christianity!  Hmmm.  What does this say about us Christians?

OK, OK, I know some Christians practice some kind of fasting during Lent.  Like giving up a certain food item for the 40 days of Lent.  But how many really, if one even does this, really gives up their least liked food?  C'mon, c'mon, admit it.  (I confess, as a kid, I gave up beets one Lenten season....& I hate beets!)  Real spiritual sacrifice there!  And, not all Christians even have Lent or fast.

I was reading an article a few weeks ago and it said it was noted in a study that people who attend church, or are active in church life, tend to be a few pounds heavier than those who do not have church that is an active part of their lives!  Yes really!   The study said it is because of all the wonderful food we share at church events!

Of course, this is not true for everyone...there are a few thin people that attend church!  I think I saw one a couple of months ago.  (Kidding!)

But I can attest, as someone who is around churches a lot...all those pot lucks, dinners, goodies, cookies, banana breads and so forth that people are always cooking, baking and sharing...I admit, I have put on a few pounds the past two years.  My will power weakens when all of those delicious goodies are in front of me!

Yes, sticking to a diet is difficult.  It is especially hard to be a semi veggie in Texas.  I do not eat beef or pork, and have not done so now for about 8 years.  The reason is that I have slightly high cholesterol.  When I stopped eating beef and pork, my cholesterol dropped 70 points.  And my doctor said, "Well, just keep on doing what you are doing!"  
 
This does not mean of course that my mouth does not water when I smell steaks grilling on someones the barbecue...or smell those juicy cheeseburgers cooking at a restaurant




But all this does make one contemplate...that what we eat is a big part of our spiritual life.
 
What do you think?

Spirituality and Doors

This is the homily I gave yesterday.  Enjoy! 

The week before last I was in Virginia at an Episcopal retreat center called Roslyn, where I attended my first Episcopal Armed Forces Chaplains conference.   There I met many Episcopal priest chaplains, some active duty USAF, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and some Reserves and Guard. 

One night, we all gathered in the dining hall for dinner, but I was not very hungry, as the whole conference they fed us very well, too well.   I sat at the table anyway, just so I could visit with the others.  One of the chaplains said to me,  "Aren’t you going to eat dinner?”    I told him I was not very hungry.  He responded, “What does hunger have to do with eating?”   

It made me laugh…and remember my grandfather, who said the same thing…he spoke with a heavy Italian accent, as he was from Italy and immigrated here when he was a young man.  When I was a kid, I would visit my grandparents…and one evening dinner I was not very hungry and had a small helping of pasta on my plate.  He looked at me across the table with this perturbed look over his dish piled high with pasta and said with his heavy Italian accent, “Lauda, you eatah like a bird!  Monja!!” I told him I was not very hungry.  He said, “What does-ah hunger haff a to a do with eating?”

My grandfather would tell me stories of when he was kid growing up in Italy, his service in the Italian Navy and his transition to living here in the USA.  Man, it must have been hard for him… Never seeing his family again after he left Italy.  Learning a new language, starting totally over.  For 50 or so years, he lived here, making the USA his new home.   Can you imagine?  A door closed behind him as he left Italy…but a new one, a new life opened for him here in the USA.    

These things came to mind as I contemplated our gospel reading for today  (John 10:1-10) especially the passage where Jesus says, “I am the gate”,  (Gate is also translated as “door”.)  

And so this week, I have been thinking about doors and gates.   

This specific passage, Jesus as a gate, is usually overlooked as in the next paragraph in John’s gospel, Jesus says ‘I am the good shepherd’, a passage and image of Jesus we are all very familiar with.   We are not so familiar with Jesus as a gate or a door!

So, what can we learn spiritually in contemplating and exploring Jesus as the door or a gate?  What could Jesus have meant by this?   What are doors symbolically? 

Yes….hope, opportunity, a passage, change, transformation, entrance into new life…. 

As we know, there are many famous doors and gates around the world on many great buildings, structures, cathedrals, temples, and so forth.   What are some famous gates and doors?     […The Golden Gate…the gateway to America from the Pacific…..Torii gates in Japan….interestingly, they are red.]

Have you ever noticed that many Episcopal Churches have red doors? Many ancient houses going back to Biblical times also painted their doors red.    Why?  [It symbolizes safety, protection, sanctuary, leaving the ordinary, secular world and entering a sacred and holy place…]

Interestingly, in Scotland, if someone paints their front door red, in means they have paid off their mortgage! 

And references to gates and doors also are all over the Bible…in Matthew…”Enter thru the narrow gate, for the gate is wide that leads to destruction..”.  And in Luke, “ask and it shall be given, knock, and the door will be opened for you..”  In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says “I am standing at the door, knocking, if you hear my voice, open the door.”

Who has not at times prayed to God to open a door in our lives?..., such as a new opportunity to come our way, …or a new job?

Doors, gates…symbols of passage, transitions, changes…

Spiritual teacher Joyce Rupp  says a door can symbolize the human heart of our deepest self.  Do we dare go within? 

Yes opening the door to our heart can leave us vulnerable…. We can get hurt…. But it is also a way to spiritual growth, living in love, not fear….it is the way to God.

What doors have you opened in your life that brought you closer to God?  What life circumstances may have pushed you into a door that was perhaps very difficult…but led to much growth?  What doors may still need to be opened?  What doors, need to be closed? 

Yes....when we walk through that open door… we must also close the one behind us. 

There are many doors in our lives….many transitions, phases, chapters and seasons of life.  At each of these transitions, a gate or a doorway we go through. 

Think of all the seasons and phases of your lives…your childhood…. high school, college...marriage…careers….each chapter of life, and between each season… a doorway of transition.  In our lives, we walk thru so many doors.  These transitions are usually marked with ceremonies and rituals. 

And like I said, when we have that open door that beckons, we also must close a door behind us.  This really hit home with me yesterday…as I received a letter in the mail….and it had great impact on me.  Oh, I knew it was coming…but nevertheless, a door had officially closed.    It was from the United Church of Christ, the denomination I have been ordained with and endorsed for military chaplaincy for 12 or so years…plus more before I was ordained.  The letter was my official notification that I am no longer endorsed by the UCC…and basically, no longer affiliated with them any more.  Sigh.   

It really hit me.   My title now is “Transitional Deacon”…meaning I am in transition…soon to be an Episcopal Priest.  A new door I will walk through…

Yes in all our lives, many doors, many seasons, many gateways and doorways we pass thru. 

And Jesus said, “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved… I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly…..I am standing at the door, knocking, if you hear my voice, open the door.”