Holy Routines

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Jesus told us to make this bold and practical declaration when we pray. He knew that we need sustenance—both for our souls and for the bodies our souls inhabit.

We tend to classify as “spiritual” practices those we (perhaps erroneously) separate from our physical experience: prayer, study of the Bible, worship, or confession. They seem to “happen” in our thoughts and mind, not our bodies.

However, we cannot ignore the fact that our spirit is housed in a body (flawed and fragile as it may be), and all we do with that body—even eating—impacts our soul.

Consequently, even daily routines can become spiritual practices, if viewed through the right lens. Even eating—consuming that daily bread, chewing on an answered prayer—can draw us closer to the Divine. The care of our soul is intertwined with the care of our bodies. And how we care for our bodies also impacts our work—even if most of our work involves sitting at a desk.

Mindless munching

We need to eat to survive, but many of us eat mindlessly. Thoughtful consideration of what we eat, and how we eat it, can turn mealtime into a holy routine—or not.

We grab coffee in the car, eat lunch at our desks, have dinner in front of the television or while catching up on emails on our laptop. We snack out of boredom. Our routine, when it comes to food, is anything but holy.

Do we really get more done eating lunch at our desks? Does watching CNN really aid digestion? Why do we choose to live this way?

The routine of mealtime can become a sacred one, simply by changing our approach. That doesn’t mean duplicating Pinterest-worthy recipes and place settings, or spending hours preparing a meal. It might not even mean cooking. The corner booth at the local pizza joint can be a place where we meet God in the routine of eating. A business lunch with colleagues or clients can be a place where we catch a glimpse of the holy—if we slow down enough to notice.

Eat with joy

How? Start by gathering around a table, whether in a restaurant, coffee shop or home. Pause. Look at the people you’re eating with, and tell them how grateful you are to be with them, and how grateful you are for the meal. Take a moment to be truly thankful. This “moment” can take less than 30 seconds, but can set a tone of comfort and camaraderie. If you are eating with colleagues who don’t share your faith, this can be a way of “praying” in a way that includes all but offends none. It creates a sort of hospitality even in crowded restaurant.

“Another way to practice the kind of hospitality that God offers, which is lavish and generous, is to leave aside ‘fat talk’ (or calorie or carb talk) and focus on enjoyment of our food and also of the fellowship we share at the table,” says Rachel Marie Stone, author of the award-winning book Eat with Joy: Redeeming God’s Gift of Food.

“At business lunches we can be hospitable in simply ways, whether by suggesting a shared appetizer or encouraging a sense of celebration, as a challenge to the dominant culture’s anxiety about food and eating and body image,” Stone adds.

Make time for actual meals with family or friends. Children who gather around a table in the evening with their family to not only eat but to discuss their day tend to get better grades, get into less trouble with drugs and alcohol, tend to be physically and mentally healthier, and less likely to develop eating disorders or to become obese.

Don’t rush through meals, whether you’re eating with friends, family, or by yourself. Dr. Grace R. Freedman, founder of eatdinner.org, a non-profit organization and website dedicated to helping families make the commitment to eat dinner together on a regular basis, says part of the benefit of family meals—not just to children but to anyone who participates—comes from slowing down.

“Research shows that family meals are more beneficial if participants feel less hurried and rushed,” she says. “So I always say, even if it’s a mad dash to get to the table, remind yourself to stop a moment, take a deep breath, and relax before the meal begins. As busy as we are, family meals should be a chance to pause, take a deep breath and appreciate what we have and are able to share with our loved ones at the table.”

Whether or not you have children in your home, sitting down with your family (or friends) for dinner, even if the food is soup and sandwiches, benefits your soul. Pause between bites, and ask your companions about their day. Make each meal a celebration of God’s provision. Eat mindfully. Choose simple, healthy food as a way of honoring God with your body. Savor the sacred on your plate.

Even if we live alone, we can establish a holy routine of eating healthy food, at a table—caring for our body in a simple way.

Eat Like Jesus

The gospel narratives often take us to a meal: whether in the home of a Pharisee, or out in the wilderness. Some of Jesus’ most significant conversations happen around a table (or at a picnic, so to speak).

Jesus also sought out meals with people who might otherwise have been shunned or ignored. Consider how you might follow His example. Whose soul hunger might you satisfy by inviting them to your table for food and conversation?

Jesus cared about the physical needs of His followers. When his disciples are so busy they don’t have time to eat, Jesus seeks to remedy that situation immediately. Mark 6:31 says: “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”

Some rest presumably included some food. Rest meant refreshment that included both a chance to relax, and a chance to nourish their bodies. Might Jesus issue the same invitation to 21st century followers who are “so busy they don’t have time to eat”?

Keri Wyatt Kent is an author, collaborative writer and speaker, and a big believer in family dinners. She contributes regularly to The High Calling. Learn more or contact her at www.keriwyattkent.com

[Photo by Sofia Relvas, used under a creative commons license, sourced via Flickr.]