Breaking
Bread Together
“Dining
with one’s friends and beloved family is certainly one of life’s primal and
most innocent delights. One that is both soul-satisfying and eternal.”
Julia
Child
One of
my favorite things to do is have friends or family over for dinner. I cook all
day, and lots of planning and love goes into the meal. Feeding folks you love
is such an ancient and important ritual. In Acts 2:46, the early church is
described as such: “They broke bread together in their homes and ate together
with glad and sincere hearts.” Being able to nourish one’s beloveds is one
of the most fundamentally bonding acts of humanity.
In my
retrospective on life, I remember how important mealtime was to my family of
origin. We sat down together every night, no books, no television, no
distractions. Everyone was there to enjoy the food Mother cooked, hear about the
goings-on at Daddy’s workplace, and talk about the events of our day. Sometimes,
supper was the only time we were together all day, so it was sacred time. Nowadays,
I see young couples sitting at tables in restaurants, both with eyes glued to
phones as though human contact on a mobile device is more interesting and intimate
than conversation with the person sitting across the table from you. I find
that truly sad.
Breaking
bread together is an intimate act. It says, I care about you, I want to please
you, I enjoy your company, and I trust you—all in a crust of bread. If more
diplomacy were conducted over a delicious meal, the world might be a more
peaceful place. Last night, we were chatting about the things we describe as “our
lives” like work and family. What if breaking bread together is what is most
important—not our jobs, not our bank accounts, not success in accomplishing our
career milestones, but the simple act of communion over a nourishing meal and
good conversation. Maybe that should be the barometer by which success is
measured.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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