Providence

Providence is not a word we often use in our daily vocabulary. Divine providence rings more familiar. From within providence emerges the verb provide, a word with which we can associate…to provide, to provide for.

Food is intimately related to providence. The many hands that work to provide the food that graces our tables. The food over which we say “grace.” Is it not Grace itself that provides life and its sustenance?

In his look at the spirituality and ethics of eating, Shannon Jung suggests two poles around which biblical themes of food and eating concentrate: delighting and sharing. I offer a few reflections about the first of these two and will save a deeper look at sharing for another post.

Until a few days ago I had never seen a group of grown men delight over the beauty of squash blossoms. It is truly a joy to be able to work in the kitchen of Highlands Bar and Grill and to see a passion for food seldom experienced. We regularly receive fresh seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. “What beautiful shrimp!” “Did you see this Mahi Mahi?” From local farmers we receive elegant squash blossoms, bold arugula and tender baby leeks. Marbled pork shoulders and creamy goat cheese from North Alabama grace our kitchen. Providence.

From where does your food come? Ultimately from Divine Providence, and along the way many hands and hearts join to carry your sustenance from field to table. Perhaps we should start with recognizing and appreciating all those who make our daily bread possible. Then, how can we become more local with our food and at the same time more aware of our role in the international food economy? Read about Slow Food here in our country. Get involved by supporting local and regional farmers and producers.

Food is big business, and not just in terms of dollars and cents. We are experiencing the rise of an international food crisis about which as Christians we can’t be complacent. Table was central to Christ’s ministry. Images of feasting are pervasive in Scripture. I’ll leave you with one to consider God’s intention for humankind and our sustenance. An image of Divine Providence…

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. (Isaiah 25:6-9)

Peace...