F o o d

  f  o r                            

     T h o u g h t  

Raw vegetables

We can pay a lot of attention to our food. 

It's something we just can't ignore because we need it everyday. 

It is a habit, and it is a necessity.

Besides that, we've been given taste buds sensitive to salt, and to sweet flavors.

There are nuances, of course, mostly obtained from the sense of smell added to the sense of taste.

To put it simply, we like to eat!

A good meal becomes a special occasion when it is shared with people we care about.  Sitting down at the table with family, with friends, with others who have interesting ideas, experiences, art, literature, or music to share, is a treat.

The meal then provides an occasion - and the thoughts exchanged by those present become 

Food for Thought!

May, 2008, Chateau Courtomer, Normandy, France -

Here wo enjoyed two days of lessons in French cuisine, by Suzi Gott-Siguret, 

and wonderful meals. 

American Writers and Artists, Incorporated 

sponsored this photo guide tour. 

The Appetizer. . .  As we wait for the words: "Dinner is served!", we may be eating crackers spread with cream cheese and a red pepper relish. Then we may choose a cracker spread with goose liver pate. But it is the personal, human exchange of thoughts and experiences which provides the flavor of the moment which lingers in our memory.

The Salad. . .  Once we are seated and the salad is served, we can begin the meal itself. It might be a bowl of fresh mixed spring greens. It could have a French, Italian, or Hispanic accent - or whatever cultural cuisine of the moment is favored by the host. 

The Soup. . .  Ah, the soup! Every culture has its own special soups.

There are some interesting stories about the soup course. One of our favorite dinner table scenes in film is from "Princess Diaries". The shy, awkward, 16-year-old girl has recently learned that she is a princess, and has been taking "princess lessons" from her grandmother, the queen. The "faux pas" she commits at the table during a state dinner are hilarious!

Here is something worth pondering:

In regard to God's family - those adopted into His family through 

        the blood sacrifice of Yeshua -

a child of the King is a child of the King.

No degree of childishness - no lack of social decorum - disqualifies us.

The royal relationship does not change.

After all, Yeshua Ha'Meshiach is the King of the Universe!

         Spill the soup? 

         Start a fire by upsetting the flambe dessert? 

         Break a wine glass? 

         Fall off of the chair?

Oh! the wisk melted in the sauce!

In Yeshua, Jesus, washed in His Blood, 

     a child of the King 

     is STILL a child of the King.

 We need "prince" and "princess" lessons every day.

That is our lifestyle. . .and as we said before, it is

Food for Thought!

Where were we now? Oh yes...moving on to

The Entree. . .  Whether it be a meat, poultry, fish, or vegetarian dish, it is the centerpiece of the meal.  It is worthy of the chef's best effort - whether that chef (cook) be man or woman, they will be rewarded by the appreciation of those seated at the table. Their art is  a practical one, enhancing a social occasion, and because it is designed to be consumed, it disappears. A food presentation however, can be photographed or painted for lasting visual appreciation before being eaten. However, unlike a painting or photograph, the food itself cannot be hung on a wall, or printed in a book. Yet it is art, nevertheless.

Good food, well prepared and tastefully presented, is a centerpiece for truly gracious hospitality.

Good conversation is indeed an art! It is one thing to write our thoughts 

and have the time to fine tune them in the editing process.

It is something else again, to bring forth an inspired conversation at the table, with the spontaneous flow of thoughts and ideas. How many of us have given ourselves a symbolic slap on the mouth, wishing we had chosen our words more carefully? We fell victim to foot-in-the-mouth disease. . .

Yet good humor and apologies will overcome this, and the conversation will continue. When we can humbly acknowledge our weaknesses to one another, we become more believable. When we forgive another, and forgive ourselves, we ally ourselves with heaven! This too is

Food for Thought!

Dessert and a beverage. . .  At the end of a fine meal comes something which we certainly do not need. It is another habit and custom. Our bodies certainly do not benefit from the excess food, especially when it is heavily sugared, which is usually the case. 

The author remembers a multi-course banquet in the French style, hosted by a vintner in upstate New York. 

Of course, he displayed his different wines during the meal, and we all ate - and drank - much more than was good for us! On future occasions, we plan to stop eating short of gluttony.

After the meal and a short rest, several of the guests accepted the host's invitation to dive into the cold lake for a short swim. This ended our evening, and was for this author its most memorable part.  

Hopefully the reader has enjoyed this little journey into the more social side of life, and will take away some useful and helpful tips.

Food for Thought!

    Bon appetit, everyone!