On Monday, I chatted with Theresa Byars and Betty McNeil of Fossil, Oregon. I thanked them for their kind invitation to attend the Sunday service and picnic lunch at the United Methodist Church. The event was a special occasion to honor the presence of guest pastor Dave McCue who drove six hours from Colville, Washington to deliver a well-prepared and engaging sermon. I commented on how good the cooks are in Fossil and what a lovely addition the lunch was to the event. Betty made me laugh when she said point blank “Feed them and they will come”. Oh that’s sooooo true, Betty!! Together the three of us conversed about the amazing power of food to provide not only physical sustenance but spiritual and emotional nourishment as well. Food has the remarkable ability to bring people together. Whether it’s a pot of tea and cookies shared with a close friend or two, a wedding feast or a community potluck, food provides the true wealth of connection, joy and comfort.
Food is a physical manifestation of love. The sun’s light must be filled with love because just look at how the earth responds with her generous cornucopia of bounty. The next time you are in the produce isle, stop for a moment, quiet yourself, open your eyes and take in the gift nature of it all.
The recent fires in Fossil are a good example of the power of food to create community and nourish us on so many levels. During the apex of the fires, residents came together to offer dinners at the Isobel Edwards hall. The town invited everyone, including the firefighters. Volunteers donated and lovingly prepared the food. This gathering together gave folks the opportunity to comfort one another and empathetic ears provided much needed security. Imagine what that same event would have felt like if the only thing served were glasses of room temperature water. The words that come to my mind are empty and incomplete.
I am absolutely certain that food has the ability to absorb and transfer heart energy. In my opinion, one of the best ways to show a person how much you love them is to prepare a meal. The food doesn’t need to be elaborate or fancy because sometimes simple is best. My son, William, used to say “Mom, you are not a very warm and fuzzy type but you sure know how to show your love through food”. To this day that still makes me chuckle.
Thank you, Betty and Theresa, for your lovely invitation to experience the fellowship of food and contemplate its profound ability to uplift and restore.