Well I finished a wonderful book earlier this week. I actually was sad to finish Animal, Vegetable, Miracle because it was such a good book. Barbara Kingsolver does a splendid job sharing the journey of her family's food life for one entire year. They committed to eating local and called themselves "locavores." I have decided I will print the recipes from the book (http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/) and try them out. Anyway the book is truly inspiring to me... not just to eat local, but to know the land where you food comes from, the processes in order to produce your food, and also the importance of community. If you get the chance to read it, I would highly recommend it. Nah, I would suggest you make the time to read it!
More recently I have been enjoying revisiting the writings of Wendell Berry. Again, another great author and one everyone needs to read. Here are a few excerpts from the introduction of the book (intro. written by Norman Wirzba talking about Berry's essays found in The Art of the Commonplace).
"We have assumed that we can know and pursue what is best for ourselves, all the while disregarding the needs of the communities, natural and human, that sustain us," (p. viii).
"Though more of us than ever before live a life of luxury and ease, fewer of us can claim that our lives are permeated with peace and joy," (p. ix).
"Berry concluded that the source of help cannot come from within ourselves for 'it is not from ourselves that we will learn to be better than we are,'" (p. ix).
"Our fundamental mistake is that we have presumed to be the authors of ourselves and our destinies, and thus have forgotten or denied that we are part of 'a great coauthorship in which we are all collaborating with God and with nature in the making of ourselves and one another,'"(p. ix).
In the first essay, titled "Native Hill," Berry describes his journey discovering the pleasure of returning to the place of his youth and allowing that place to become his own. As Berry illustrates the life he once knew in Kentucky as a young child, he reminisces about working the land with his grandfather. Although I never have really "worked the land" here in America, I have recently been drawn to the idea of knowing more about my connection to the land. This is not is some mystical way, but rather a longing to know the hard work that goes into producing the life sustaining food we eat. Our God has created a system that works beautifully... as I see it... he gives man the ability to sow seed, he blesses the earth with sun and rain, the food grows, he provides man the opportunity to reap the blessing of harvest and the food sustains man physically by the grace of God, while he sustains man spiritually. All the while, man is acquiring physical activity, fresh air, appreciation for the land, and many other beneficial things.
Why has our society taught us that separating ourselves from the land is desirable? No longer do we understand the affects of the weather patterns or the process for growing the food we eat. Literally, I know kids that do not know vegetables come from seeds you plant. And, although embarrassing, I'll admit that I am having to relearn the process of photosynthesis and other plant life biology. I'm sure this used to be ingrained in the lives of young children growing up on farms, if not just because of curious questions, but today it's the farthest thing from our busy minds when picking out delicious strawberries at the store.
I am intrigued by the journey: of hoping the seeds you planted actually grow, watching them transform into beautiful, unique plants, and then even discovering new ways of cooking them. Although my mind has been focused on plants lately, Brett has also introduced me to the idea of raising animals to provide other means of nutrients as well. Through his interest in cattle, I have learned the benefits of knowing the different breeds, considering the health of the animals, and even valuing the taste of home grown meat. This journey... although just beginning with my reading and a few potted plants... has drawn me into a deeper appreciation for how the Lord created this earth to operate. I long to understand more about his plan for man from the beginning... Adam and Eve style. Also, I have realized that in my current lifestyle I trust in the supermarket to provide my food for me every week, but long to fully transfer my trust to the Lord for providing soil, sun, and water to create the nutrients that sustains us. I see this as the goal of the journey: to know the Lord more by appreciating his provision, acknowledging his will, and glorifying him.
No comments:
Post a Comment