Food For Thought

Food for thought, it’s a saying we’ve all been hearing our whole lives, but what if it had more to do with food than we thought?

But also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of his labour, it is the gift of God -Ecclesiastes 3:13

Food for thought is probably an expression you have been hearing your whole life, and likely to do with anything but food. I know I have, not only is it an expression that I hear a lot, but it’s also one that I use quite often myself. Something about it just seems right, seems to fit, fit me, fit life. Though I’ll admit most people probably don’t take it quite as literally as I do. To me, food for thought is the best expression why? Because I believe that food is the best answer to anything. Not only can food express anything, but it can also be anything.

I don’t know about you but sometimes life gets me down, way down, there are times when everything feels pointless, I feel like a failure, days when getting out of bed seems like a chore and you find yourself standing in the middle of your dream and wondering why? Why did I get myself into this in the first place?

Whether it’s hard times, bad weather, sickness, loss, or just one of those days. We’ve all been there, we’ve all had our moments of doubt, about life, about ourselves, about everything we are doing. I find that food is my answer to most things, I find myself in the kitchen for many reasons, but a lot of the time I find myself in the kitchen for no reason at all. I find myself in the kitchen simply because, because food is beautiful and lovely and it can solve just about any problem.

My Food For Thought

On those days when I find myself feeling a little, okay a lot less than okay. A lot less than a great success for whatever reason, I make a point of being in the kitchen. Of making something good to eat, something that reminds me of home, of simpler times, the sort of thing you eat, and all your troubles just disappear.

I light candles, I play some jazz and forget about everything else. The messy house, the pile of dishes gathering on the counter, the food I spilled on the floor,(the dogs will eat it anyway). I focus on just the food in front of me.

Because nothing solves a bad day like the smell of fresh herbs and red wine mingling together. Or something sweet and warm filling the house as it bakes. I invite someone into the kitchen with me, my mum, my brother, sometimes just a dog or two. We chat about our favorite memories, or the latest films while peeling potatoes, or rolling out pie crust. We laugh about the fact I still can’t open a bottle of wine properly or the fact I can’t drink a cup of anything without spilling it all over myself.

I set the table extra nicely, I let people snitch the food or a taste of dessert. I light more candles and get out fancy glasses even though it means more dishes later. In other words, I do whatever it takes, to focus on food because food makes me think, it reminds me that it is the little moments, the everyday moments, that are the best memories.

Final Thoughts

Because at the end of the day I can’t think of anything more lovely, more beautiful, dare I say perfect than all the people I love gathered around the table, laughing over good food. It’s funny how God gives us the biggest blessings in the smallest forms. And well it might not solve the real problems at hand, it may not fix everything. It does have a way of changing my perspective a little, a lot, and often by the end of it I find myself wondering, despite the dirty dishes, or all the things I know I’ll have to worry about tomorrow, wondering what more does one need in life than this? Then good food, good conversation, and loved ones to share it with?

So this is my food for thought, for you, a challenge to savor the little things in life. To go the extra mile, cook something nice, and set the table with your best dishes because life is short and fleeting, but life is also meant to be lived to be enjoyed. And I find there is nothing better, nothing more satisfying when times are tough when life is uncertain, and when we are feeling down, nothing better than a homecooked meal, good music, soft light, and an evening where nothing besides the food in front of you and the people around you matters.

Today has enough trouble of its own and tomorrow I’m sure will have plenty too. So let’s take a moment to enjoy the now, to celebrate that we are alive and that life that God has given us. To celebrate the fact that we get to live this life, through the good and through the bad, through ups and downs, every moment, of every day we get to live, and that alone is worth celebrating.