By Cynthia Coe
Eating is fundamental to human life. Eating is fundamental to spiritual life, too. A new book (and supporting resources) by Lysa Terkeurst, Made to Crave, shines a spotlight on the myriad images of eating in the Bible and digs deep on the issues of eating and sharing food as spiritual practices.
If your parishioners haven’t already mentioned this book or asked to start a small group book study, chances are they will. Yes, the book is a bit conservative in tone and language for most Episcopalians. Yes, the book has the tone of a girlfriend venting about the battle of the bulge. But hear this author out. Lysa Terkeurst has important points to
make.
At the crux of her work is numerous scripture passages from both the Old and New Testaments on the role of food in our spiritual heritage. Made to Crave is a sound Bible study for those of us living in a world of Affluenza, where food with the so-called added value of human processing of natural gifts greets and lures us at every stage of our journeys. This book addresses a culture of “too much” and challenges us to examine the binges and over-consumption most of us take for granted.
A tendency to use food as comfort or reward is a characteristic many of us, perhaps unconsciously, have developed as we fill our grocery baskets with high calorie, high fat treats which were likely impossible to obtain in our local groceries twenty years ago. I’m reminded of the chocolate covered cookies I once only saw in Germany, the Starbucks that once only served chocolate flavored coffee drinks in large cities like Washington, or candy bars I once could only buy in Switzerland. All these “treats” and “novelties” are now available 24/7 within five miles of my house in rural Knox County, Tennessee.
Yet I was actually astounded at how great I felt yesterday after ordering a simple fresh tomato, lettuce, and mozzarella sandwich at a museum café. I marveled at how such a simple yet delicious lunch entrée had become a novelty in and of itself. Even more amazing, the produce was likely been grown in a garden down the street!
If we ate food nearer to the way God made it – and to satisfy true physical hunger only – we would find ourselves deliciously and nutritiously fed, feeling great, well equipped to carry out our callings, and likely slimmer
and trimmer to boot.
It’s all about choices. It’s all about what we do with the gifts God give us, including our money, our bodies, and the produce of our land. It’s all about how we really feed ourselves – do we seek comfort and rewards from a jumbo sized chocolate chip cookie, or do we look to Christ for our comfort and reward?
On a communal note, food is, of course, at the crux of our Sacraments and theology. “Feed my sheep” really does mean “feed my sheep.” Literally. Sharing Eucharist is sharing a meal together, including all that entails – hospitality, kind and attentive service to others, quality ingredients, and humble consumption of what is offered us.
So if parishioners want to come in our doors and talk about God, food, and dieting – it’s okay. These topics are already part of our heritage, part of our theology, part of our scriptures. Let us welcome those struggling with food issues – as we do those struggling with other seemingly more dangerous addictions – into our formation processes. Let us listen to them and share what Christianity has had to say about food for centuries.
Recommended Resources:
Lysa Terkeurst, Made to Crave (Zondervan 2011). Both paperback and e-reader versions available on-line for about $10. A Participant’s Guide is also available (in print for about $10 – highly recommended so you can confront your own demons in response to the questions and exercises), along with a DVD available through Cokesbury.com for about $25.
Daily Devotionals to supplement Made to Crave are available. Made to Crave God – Every Day of the Year includes traditional Christian writings and is excellent, even for non-food related devotionals (available from B&N for nook for about $3). A second book of devotionals, Craving God: A 21 Day Devotional Challenge is currently
available as a FREE nook book through B&N (another print version is currently only available for pre-order.)
Made to Crave just too “commercial” or need something more traditionally theological? Try L.
Shannon Jung, Sharing Food: Christian Practices for Enjoyment (Fortress Press 2006).
And, of course, a children’s/intergenerational litany, experiential exercises and Bible studies on the importance God’s gifts to grow our food is available at http://www.er-d.org/children,
The Abundant Life Garden Project.
Cindy Coe 