Slow Food

Hungry after work, I was eager to eat dinner. After eating I noticed how quickly I ate without thought. A few years ago, I stayed overnight at Abbey of Gethsemane, a Trappist Monastery where beloved monk and acclaimed author Thomas Merton lived. Eating meals in silence invited me to reflect on each bite. I ate slowly, thinking about where the food came from and how it was harvested. This mindfulness kept me from eating more than necessary. In the silence, alone with simple nourishment, I thought, “Praise be to God for providing just what we need.”