hmmm.....

Hmmm…..

            The news today is that paleontologists have found some grinding stones that seem to be about 10,000 years old.  And it appears that they have some small grains of flour on them, suggesting that cavemen ate a form of bread made from roots gathered and ground.   Good news for us who cherish our carbohydrates.  The cavemen may have begun our love of bread and pasta with a simple type of crispy cracker.

            Bread has been a symbol of nourishment and community in many religions.  The Jewish heritage is to celebrate together with the breaking of the unleavened bread.  Christians use the bread as a symbol of Christ’s presence in and nourishment of our spiritual lives.   Both rites are held in gatherings of the faithful. 

            I recently attended a retreat in which many meals were shared.  What I found interesting was the variety of food demands made on the food service workers.  Some needed foods without sugar, some required gluten free products and one attender drank only coconut milk.  Now, while I respect the health needs of those who have allergies, I wonder how all these demands affect our sense of shared community.  Eating together becomes less and less common and with all the different dietary needs, we might as well all scarf down our food alone.   Unfortunately the result is that we nourish our bodies but starve our souls.

            Hmmm……