Monday Blahs

Well, back to work. Monday. I'll admit, I am finding this task difficult lately, I guess by that I mean since I got back from Our Lady of the Rock. Today I wanted to throw everything out the window. This week I was planning on starting to eat in a way that is inspired by Thich Nat Haan and buddhism. I just don't feel prepared. It's tricky to feel close to this project when you are herding nine toddlers all day. I ate toast and tea for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and leftovers for dinner.

Unspeakable Sweetness of Love

"For as we advance in the religious life and in faith, our hearts expand and we run the way of God's commandments with unspeakable sweetness of love." --from the Rule of St. Benedict.

Today I had toast for breakfast. I went to morning mass. I had intended to get up early for the early morning service too but I didn't. Sleep is holy too. There were a few visitors at Mass so there were ten or twelve people there. Part way through mass I felt like I was having a low blood sugar issue. I sat there debating what to do. I was torn because I wanted to stay but I didn't want anything dramatic to happen. I thought I could make it it until communion but then I remembered that I couldn't have any so I slipped out, ran to the guest house and grabbed an orange which I ate while I quickly walked back to mass. No harm done but the lesson: take care of your body sufficiently enough that you don't have to miss mass. It's a good thing I'm not Catholic or I would have had to say some Hail Marys or something.

The front of the chapel

It was interesting to read the rule of St. Benedict regarding food and drink. It is much more flexible than one might think, making allowances for people with infirmities, or monks who have been doing lots of physical labor. Of course, the point is to be measured: "Above all things, however, over-indulgence must be avoided . . . for there is nothing so opposed to the Christian character as over-indulgence, according to our Lord's words, 'See to it that your hearts not be burdened with over-indulgence.'" That could be interpreted in another way too. How do I fill my heart until it is too full of feelings? Like watching mindless televison or taking on other people's burdens. But I digress.

I bought some wool made from these cotswold sheep!

It indicates that the monks should not eat four footed animals, which if available, does not exclude birds. The monks/nuns also eat in while listening to readings of past saints and scholars. "As to the things that they need while they eat and drink, let the brethren pass them to one another so that no one need ask for anything. If anything is needed, however, let it be asked for by means of some audible sign rather than by speech." I would love to see this in action! There is another section for drink.". . .We belive that a hemina of wine a day is sufficient for each." Wine was more sanitary than water I suppose. Does this mean that I can drink a hemina of wine a day for my project? Wait . . . what is a hemina? It goes on: ". . .The Superior shall used his judgment in the matter, taking care that there be no occasion for surfeit or drunkeness. We read that it is true, that wine is by no means a drink for monks, but since the monks of our day cannot be persuaded of this, let us at least agree to drink sparingly and not to saiety because 'wine makes even the wise fall away.'" This is classic. I can just hear the monks now: "No, it's fine. We'll be good. Just let us have a hemina a day. We won't get drunk, we promise."

I decided to take the the twelve-thirty ferry home. I had a long drive home and I had a non-monastery life to get back to. Lunch was an egg, cheese and sausage dish, you can't really go wrong there. I might have eaten more than the Rule would have approved of. The ferry ride back was nice. It wasn't too cold so I stood outside and watched the islands recede hoping I could go back soon.

Ora et Labora

I slept so hard. I don't think I moved all night. I woke up anticipating where I was, and what it looked like in the daylight.  Our Lady of the Rock is run by about eight Benedictine nuns. The mantra of the monastery is Ora et Labora: Pray and Work. They have about three hundred acres in the San Juan Islands where they keep three kinds of cattle, sheep, alpacas, llamas, chickens and two peahens. There are also two interns here. They live in the guest house where I am staying for the weekend. There are two other guests here as well; a couple who have been working around the farm.

7:30 am
Coffee (half milk), bread. There is a peahen on the porch. Mass is at 8:00am.
It is a beautiful sunny day. It feels normal here; no pressures to check e-mail and all that hustle and bustle of everyday life. Time is measured differently at a monastery.

I went to mass with Cate the other intern. She’s Catholic so she knew what to do as far as standing and sitting, crossing and kneeling, etc. I felt a bit nervous. The priest that is usually connected with the monastery is ill so there was a deacon doing the mass with the nuns. He was laid back and that made it feel more comfortable. I have a huge amount of sadness and, I’ll admit, some anger over the fact that I cannot take communion in Catholic church. It makes me feel excluded, which I think is the opposite of what Jesus was saying those centuries ago. The rebel that I am, I have taken communion in Catholic church before. I asked my friend that I was with if it was ok with her and went up and ate at the table. But it doesn’t feel right to do that either, it’s like undercover communion. Today, I debated whether or not to just stay in my seat or go up and get a blessing. I decided to go up and get a blessing and I’m glad I did. When the deacon put his hand on my head, my heart was really open to this blessing in Catholic church, for the first time unfettered from anger and sadness. It was touching and I got a little teary eyed.

After mass I helped Cate feed the Highland cows some hay. There was a baby one, about four weeks old Cate said, and he was pretending to eat the hay but he really couldn’t yet. So sweet. After that I took a nice walk and took some pictures. The nuns here are cloistered so they sleep and eat separately, but during work time guests interns and nuns mingle. I ended up helping Mother Mary Grace to prune and repot some plants and do some weeding. She used to be a receptionist at a CPA’s office and she had a spunky way about her. There are only eight nuns and they are all over fifty at least, when there is no one else to help them they just do everything themselves. They just get on with it. Of course they are grateful for the help they do receive.

12:30 pm Lunch
There were seven of us at lunch. Some people who came to visit Cate and the other two guests, Sam and me. So, we don’t eat with the nuns but every lunch and dinner, the nuns make the meals (not breakfast) and bring it to the guest house. This is part of their ministry of hospitality. If there are no guests, they just make food for Cate and Sam, or whoever the interns are. The nuns take turns making the meals. Today, we had salad, lasagna, and rolls. For dessert we had a dense cake with a lemon sauce. What a meal! I felt so lucky! Cate and Sam were telling stories about some of the funny casseroles that some of the nuns have made. Cooking is not a gift that everyone has! I was wondering where this food came from so I asked who does the shopping and Cate replied that the nuns take turns going to Costco. Screech of the wheels in my mind. What? Costco? I guess they had recently been drinking milk from the Jersey cows on their farm, but now they were pregnant and needed that nutrition for themselves. Also, they do have some of the animals that they raise slaughtered. They were going to be picking up some new meat from the butcher the next week. They also have a huge vegetable garden in the summer and fall but it had not been planted yet. So for the end of Winter, beginning of Spring, Costco it is.

After lunch I went on another walk and then I came back and helped with the plants some more. I have a way of easily romanticizing almost everything and everyone. I had these lofty ideas that the nuns would be – well, wise and all knowing I guess. I’m sure some of them are, but you know, I thought that everything that came out of their mouths would be profound. I knew they would have a sense of humor, they did all have glowing smiles. I realized after spending time with Mother Mary Grace that nuns are just normal people who worship a lot. Ok, there is much more to it than that. Monastic life is a profoundly spiritual way of life and the nuns are deeply devoted to God. The fact that these women choose this way of life is a demonstration of how life here on earth, in the bodies we are given, can be something more, something sacred. What a reminder that is to the rest of us!

Vespers was at five o’clock and I went. I was the only one there beside the nuns. They worship in a separate area of the chapel. Their singing was a rough blend of clear and warbly voices. They sing in Latin and I followed along with the English translation until they departed from it and then I just sat and listened to them sing scripture. It was quite meditative, and it didn’t really matter if I could understand it or not

6:30 pm Supper.

We were given chili and cornbread muffins, and cake for dessert because it was Joe’s birthday. He is one of the guests. He and his wife knew Mother Mary Grace before she became a nun. Joe plowed the field for the vegetable garden today. She came down and had cake with us. I asked if the nuns eat the same thing as we were and she said that a lot of the nuns have dietary restrictions because of health reasons, and so what they eat is dictated a lot by that. Now I get to relax, read and journal before I go to bed!

Here are some books that I found in the book shelf at the guest house that might be pertinent to this project:

 Monk Habits of Everyday People Dennis Okholm, 2007.

The View from a Monastery Benet Tvedten, OSB, 2006.

Our Lady of the Rock

I now interrupt my regularly scheduled blogcast to bring you news of my trip to Our Lady of the Rock monastery.

6:30 am
Bread, cheese, tea at the table.

1:15 pm
Matt came to see me for my lunch! I had a Vietnamese sandwich and it was soooo good!!

7:00 pm
Bread, cheese, in the car. There was no time to stop.

Today was a crazy day. Here’s the abbreviated version: I worked 7:15 am to 6:00 pm, I rushed to get batteries for my camera, and gas. I drove to the ferry, barely making the last ferry. I got to Our Lady of the Rock at 10:15 pm. Whew! As I was riding the ferry the sun was going down and I was looking out at the islands scattered around I thought of St. Brendan an Irish monk who sailed around in the Irish sea with a group of monks stopping at islands and listening to God. Like St. Brendan I didn't really know where I was going, and I did not know what to expect when I got there. The sunset was beautiful and the air wasn't too chilly. When I got to the monastery I was quickly shown where I could sleep by Sam the intern. I fell asleep in an instant.

Simplicity is a Guide

6:30 am
Toast and tea.

12:00 pm
Today was a special lunch: the STM graduate luncheon at Seattle University where I go to graduate school. The faculty and staff honored those of us graduating with love, a lunch, and a beautiful rose. It was really lovely. Chicken was on the menu as well as mashed sweet potatoes and asparagus. I debated whether or not to have the chicken but I decided to. It was wonderful. I appreciated it so much because I haven't been eating meat at all in the past couple of weeks. Back in the years when I tried vegetarianism, I realized that my body is happier when I am eating meat. That brings up lots of moral issues for me about eating meat, but today I was grateful for it. I even had some bites of cake! Mmmmm.

7:50 pm
Cheese, bread, apple. When I eat alone, I find myself looking around a lot. I look at the clutter on the table, look at a book, look outside, look at my food. The Carthusian monks eat most of their meals in their cells. They can look out their window, but there is really nothing else to look at inside. This must make eating more focused, intentional, or -- guided, that's the word, guided. The simplicity of the situation is the guide. It is a gentle, non-violent way, not forced. North Americans today seem to be always doing something. Now that cell phones/digital photo albums/music players, have become the norm; no one is without one in hand. In a waiting room, in an airport, at a cross walk; typing or talking.

I feel this pull at the grocery store too. I walk in to a big chain store and there is food everywhere! It is difficult to focus on what I am there for. Wait, was it chips, juice, nail polish, a coffee, a magazine? Oh I forgot the milk I came for, but my bag is full stuff I hadn't thought to want! I like this prayerful, quiet, focused way that the monks eat. Farmers' Markets are much more like that too. Smaller, more full of stuff that you went to the market for in the first place. Simple.

Sacred Salmon

7:45 am

Toast, tea.

10:30 am

Banana

1:00 pm

Salad with tomato and cheese, water.

3:00 pm

Two of my classmates brought bread, butter and honey today for our class. It was a tribute to the day before ascension day, the day that Jesus left the earth and "ascended into heaven," Jesus' last day in his earthly body.

7:00 ish pm

Tonight was dinner with my ladies group. There were only three of us this week, and tonight we celebrated our friend Kelly finishing her final project before graduation. We decided to go to the Volunteer Park Cafe. Local fresh food as you can see. The ladies asked me to say grace as we held hands at the table. I wanted to say the grace that the Carthusian monks say, “Lord we receive this food through your grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Of course I forgot it, short as it is, so I made one up. This was a sacred meal. The people are sacred and the food tasted holy in my mouth. Everything on my plate was on this weeks list: potatoes, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, fish, asparagus and garlic aioli (which after all, is oil, eggs, and garlic!). Eating locally with friends, I felt so blessed, and full – of gratitude.

True Simplicity and Authentic Poverty of Spirit

6:30 am

Toast, tea. I decided to keep reading Brother Victor-Antoine's Blessings of the Daily and today's entry was a particularly well written pertinent and poignant one. He writes:


"Reforms, throughout the history of monasticism, come and go. They are usually tied to a certain period or a charismatic personality, as they succeeded each other across the centuries. There are some today who, in an effort to purify what they consider the present ills of the monastic institution, would wish to return to what they conceive of as the monasticism of the Middle Ages – as if the medieval monasteries, or those of any other era, were ever perfect. In my view, that sort of idealism is nothing but a naïve approach to the problem. In truth, monastic life would not profit from a so-called literal return to the past, but rather from actualizing today the values learned from the past. For monastic life to survive, it must show the same versatility as the Gospel: it must be able to adapt itself to each epoch, to each place where it is implanted, or lived. . . . Filled with the grace and light that shines forth from the Gospel, we move forward seeking God daily with purity of heart, with true simplicity and authentic poverty of spirit, in the silence and solitude of the desert, where God always dwells. Monastic renewal, in essence, is all about this and all else is superfluous.”



1:00 pm

Bread, cheese, apple, water.



7:00 pm

Trout, broccoli, bread, water.

Eating in Community

6:35 am
Monday mornings are so hard for me to get up. I ate in the car and I am off to teach the children not to smack each other in the face. Sigh. . .

1:00 pm
Lunch: Cheese and bread, pear.

7:30 pm
I was invited to eat Thai food this evening. I caved. It was that, or eat alone while Matt and our friend ate together six miles away. I have realized that eating in community is more important to me today than following the rules of my project.

Into Great Silence

My first week of eating like a monk came to a close Saturday night. I thought I would be ready for new inspiration on Sunday, but instead, I settled in to my weekend picking mode and ate like a bachelorette all day. The morning started out fine with tea and toast, and then lunch was forgotten and I ate potatoes and cheese for supper. This is what happens without at least one other person around, not necessarily to eat with; but to ask what you’re having for lunch or to suggest a salad. When Matt came home from fishing late Sunday night, he showed up with three trout which was very connected-to-the-earth of him. That will be a treat to eat!

When I think of monks I’ll admit, the first things I think about are the Middle Ages and asceticism. I mean monks were their heyday around the 11th, 12th, 13th centuries right? Most people I talk to think monks ate basically nothing, but as we saw last week, some modern monks like Brother Victor-Antoine acknowledge the need for healthy bodies. As I was preparing for this project I knew the topic of asceticism (extreme abstinence, an austerely simple life, rigorous self-denial), would come up. The question is how can I eat like a medieval monk and still be healthy? Before I answer that I will back up to say that my inspiration for this week is based on the film Into Great Silence, as well as some research I have done on the life of medieval monks.

Into Great Silence is a film by Philip Groning in which he observes the highly secluded lives of the Carthusian monks at their monastery, The Grande Chartruse in France. It is known as one of the most ascetic monasteries in the world. It is related to the monks of the middles ages because that is when this monastery was founded, 1084 CE, and little has changed for Carthusian monastic life in the past nine hundred years. When Philip Groning asked the monks' permission to film their way of life, they got back to him sixteen years later to say yes. To see the trailer or for more information go to: http://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/intogreatsilence/

As I watched the film I became mesmerized and forgot the outside world. It helped that my house was completely silent as I watched. As far as I can tell, they ate fruit, bread, salad, and a stew or soup of some kind with what looked like potatoes. They eat twice a day in their "cells." Don't think of it as a place with bars where you can't get out, but a space for voluntary penitence and prayer. There is a table, a bed, and a special place to pray. There are few words spoken in the film. When new monks enter the order they are told: "You are at God's disposal alone, in solitude and stillness, in an everlasting prayer and a joyful penitence."

As far as I can tell, monks from the middle ages generally ate what they were given or could raise themselves. According to Christopher Brooke in The Age of Cloister: The Story of Monastic life in the Middle Ages, "Eggs, fish and cheese, beans, milk and honey provided the basic fare, with many variations in different times and places" p 71. I think of the current "slow food movement" and I am sure we could be reminded of the simple way in which monks have eaten for hundreds, if not thousands of years. As for myself this week, I will eat three times a day, and try to stick to the foods I have mentioned above. I will continue to read Blessings of the Daily by Brother Victor-Antoine d'Avila-Latourette. Reading these daily entries has set the tone of my day and keeps me in touch with a monastic way of life.

Tacos for Three

8:30 am
Saturday! Tea, scrambled eggs, green peppers, onions, toast.

1:30 pm
Cheese, apple, toast.

6:30 pm
I babysat my friends Ben (3 years old) and Will (6) tonight. Tacos were on the menu. We made them together! I asked Will to say grace, he always does a great job. He stood up and announced that he was going to be the prayer leader. He said the classic Catholic grace: "Bless us oh Lord for these thy gifts which we are about to recieve." Then he said another grace which I wasn't familiar with, then he said the Hail Mary. He thought there was a fourth prayer but he couldn't remember it. I can't think of a better way to end my first week of eating like a monk! Thanks guys!

Phở

6:25 am
I was -- shall I say -- excited to get up this morning and eat the bread I made. It turned out the way I imagined it to be; springy soft inside, not dry at all, and a crunchy crust on the outside.

9:15 am
Banana, coffee. It's funny, in 2009 I started drinking coffee. I always used to hate coffee but I found out if you add half a cup of milk to half a cup of coffee and a bit of sugar it's actually good. That's what I get for moving to Seattle right?

12:30 pm
Phở. This was just what I needed. Phở is a Vietnamese beef and noodle soup. Some places also make it with chicken. It is comprised of rice noodles and can be garnished with basil, bean sprouts, lime, and hot peppers. One of my coworkers has a son enrolled in the class I teach in. For a teacher appreciation gift she bought us Phở for lunch! I love Phở! It is such a comfort food for me. I had chicken, it was nice to eat meat again. I can't say enough about how good the warm broth felt rolling spilling down my throat and into my belly. There is a wonderful little Vietnamese restaurant next door to our building, "Bamboo Bowl," and they make delicious food. I was thinking about the tradition of monks relying only on what other people generously give them, and I felt like that was what my lunch was like.

6:30 pm
I ate the little bit that was left of the Phở, and the cheese sandwich that I had originally packed for my lunch. I kind of feel like I am eating worse than a monk. Brother V.-A. suggests salads and veggies and fruits. It's funny how easy it is for me to slip into "bachelorette style" eating; random bits, not really that well balanced. I guess you can eat prudently and still eat in a healthy way.

Blessing the Bread

6:30 am Barely made it in time for toast and tea at the table this morning. Thankfully the reading from Brother V.-A.’s book was short but sweet. May is the month of Mary, the mother of God. I’ve always felt connected with Mary. I like the idea of giving her a whole month.

9:00 am Had an apple for a snack.

12:25 pm I eagerly I had black bean soup and crackers. I ate in silence. I was grateful for the food.

6:15 pm Started making bread

7:15 pm I had black bean soup for supper. I do believe that the flavors have melded even more since yesterday. I added a dollop of sour cream. I love sour cream. I also had toast, and had milk to drink. I was thinking while I was eating, that a monk has very little in the way of material possessions, whatever he/she does have becomes even more of a treasure; including food. The food they eat must be such a welcome thing, not just to satisfy hunger, but to participate in creation. I look around at all the things I have, and then at my bowl of soup, and realize that the soup is really where I become involved, where life is really happening. Food is a treasure and I am lucky to have it.

10:30 pm The bread is done! Mmmmm it smells like fresh baked bread in here. In Blessings of the Table by Brother Victor-Antoine there is a prayer for blessing the bread. The end of it says: "May it be for our sanctification and the nourishment of our bodies and souls." Amen to that!

Feast Night

8:00 am Today is school day. I don’t have to get up as early as I do for work so my breakfast of toast and tea was peaceful and enjoyable this morning!

12:40 pm Of course after that nice breakfast things got hectic. I had a meeting in Kirkland (45 minute drive), and I had to get my contribution to tonight’s meal ready for tonight. In my haste, I forgot to pack my lunch so I got eggs, cheese and potatoes on a pita and green tea at Seattle U. While I was eating someone texted me on my phone and I was tempted to text while eating but I controlled impulse, sang grace to myself, and ate calmly and quietly. I really had to work on focusing on my food but eventually, lunch calmed me down and I was able to feel less hectic.

6:00 pm Tonight was a feast night! I met with my lady’s group tonight, and it’s Cinco de Mayo; the day to commemorate Mexico’s victory over the French in 1862, and to celebrate Mexican culture. We had a Mexican inspired potluck meal. I ate beloved tortilla chips and guacamole, black bean soup from Brother V.-A.’s soup book, homemade brownies and special fried tortillas with cinnamon and sugar. One of my Latina classmates brought them to share with our class. Her mother made them. To me, they looked like huge communion wafers, and they tasted crunchy and sweet. She gave us the rest to share in the evening. Oh, and how could I forget, margaritas. It was nice to have a cocktail again. I wondered whether I would just eat my soup and nothing else, and what would Brother V.-A. do? I think he would have gratefully eaten a moderate amount and had a brownie with joy. Is that just justification for me to eat the most delicious brownie ever? Perhaps, but it wasn’t difficult for me to really be thankful while I was chewing that chocolate devotion. There really in nothing like eating around a table with a community of trusted loved ones.

French Style Fish Fillets with Herbs

6:35 am Well, I didn’t make it in time to have breakfast at the table. Did I mention that I am not a morning person? I’m not going to be too hard on myself though because that would be counter productive right? I ate my cheese and toast in the car, but I said grace, which is a step up. I added cheese to the menu because I needed more to get me through until lunch. I do not get to choose when my luch break is, due to staff scheduling and the fact that children cannot take care of themselves. Another conundrum of the day is that it is teacher appreciation week, so the kids’ parents are bringing in chocolate galore and other amazing treats. Brother V.-A. suggests fruit for dessert, not a homemade marshmallow, chocolate chip, crispy, peanut butter bar!

12:15 pm Ok, I am officially over the soup. I will freeze the rest. Thankfully, today I also had some strawberries. I read my daily reflection at lunch instead of breakfast since reading while driving is definitely out. Today, Brother V.-A. quotes a beautiful prayer from Saint Gregory of Narek which I thought was worth sharing:

Creator of Light and fashioner of the night,

Thou, life in death, and light in darkness,

Hope unto those who wait,

And forbearance unto those that doubt;

Thou, who with skillful wisdom,

Turns the shadow of death into morning;

Thou unending dawn,

Thou sun without setting.

7:30 pm I made “French Style Fish Fillets with Herbs” from Brother V.-A.’s From a Monastery Kitchen, and asparagus for supper tonight. The recipe is simple: water, white wine, herbs, fish and butter. I added garlic and I used chives and thyme from my garden! It was especially good considering all the soup I’ve had recently. Matt ate with me this time and I read a nice grace by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, blessing especially those who have been kind to us. I bought wild pacific cod for the fish. My seafood guide lists pacific cod in the yellow “good alternatives” section. (the other two categories are “best chioces” and “avoid.”) The yellow category means that there are significant concerns about a species’ status, fishing methods and/or management. If you want to look at a great seafood guide go to:

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_recommendations.aspx

Minestrone Monastico

6:25 am I got up in time to eat breakfast at the table! It was tempting to hit that snooze alarm one more time but I kept my commitment not to breakfast while driving.

9:30 am I had a cup of milk on my morning break.

1:00 pm lunch break! The kids at work are always wild, they are 1 ½ years old after all; but of course today they were extra wild, just to make Monday that much easier. Gratitude abounds for my hour long break and the soup I made yesterday. I’m not sure if monks have microwaves, but we do here at work and I would rather have warm soup than cold on this damp and rainy day.

7:00 pm On my drive home from work, I remembered that "minestrone monastico" was on the menu for supper. Then, I wasn’t quite sure that I wanted soup again. I have never been a creature of habit, (so to speak), I know some people who eat the same thing for lunch every day. I could never do that. I will eat soup tonight, though if I were to eat that soup until it was gone, I’d still be eating it on Friday. Should I freeze the rest, or eat soup all week? I did enjoy my soup tonight afterall. I was hungry!

One particular grace has been running through my head the past two days, one that I grew up singing: “Be present at our table Lord, be here and everywhere adored, these mercies bless and grant that we, may strengthened for thy service be, amen.” I love that grace, it has such a pretty tune.

Week One, Day One: Simplicity, Wholesome Frugality

“Monastic kitchens always strive for a healthy and balanced diet, fully aware from past experience that the monk and the nun must be properly nourished to serve God well. The human body is the temple of God, and its dietary needs must be respected.” *

Each week this month my eating will be inspired by a different monastic community. This week I will be eating with the wisdom of Brother Victor-Antoine d'Avila-Latourette. He is a Benedictine monk who lives and works at Our Lady of the Ressurection Monastary in upstate New York. Yes, monks do live in 2010! Among other things, Brother Victor-Antoine d'Avila-Latourette is a cook and a gardener, as well as the author of several cookbooks. I am going to use his cookbooks as my inspiration this week. “If we were to reconstruct a typical monastic daily fare . . .it might be something like this: Breakfast would simply be coffee and one of two slices of bread, lunch could include. . .soup,. . .salad, Whole Wheat Buttermilk Bread, and tea.” Supper could be a casserole, a vegetable, desert (fruit) and tea. Thank goodness they drink a lot of tea! That might be my saving grace.

Sunday 8:30 am: This morning I ate toast and tea. I hadn’t gone to the store yet, so I ate the bread we had on hand which happened to be “Old Fashioned Buttermilk”, basically white bread. I also read the reflection for May 2 in Brother Victor-Antoine d'Avila-Latourette’s book, Blessings of the Daily: A Monastic Book of Days while I ate, sharing the table with the seedlings that are waiting to be planted in my garden.

1:30 pm: For lunch I made “Minestrone Monastico” soup from Brother Victor-Antoine’s book Twelve Months of Monastery Soups. It has carrots, white beans, noodles, potatoes, celery, and onions in it. I will be able to eat it for quite a few meals this week. I drank water with it and sang grace to myself.

8:00 pm: For supper, there was a little bit of leftover pot roast from last week. I figure it would be silly to waste it, so I combined it with the soup that I made this afternoon, and my partner and I ate the combo for dinner. It’s like the idea that the most environmentally friendly building is the one that is built already. At first I thought that for this project I would have to abandon all the food that was here at my house already. For the most part I will be, like the cereal which I dearly love, and the tortilla chips that I am so fond of. Today went well, I was more aware of my body and probably ate less than I would have on this rainy, dark day. I am nervous about the morning, I am not a morning person and am worried that I won’t get up in time to eat at the table before I leave. We will find out tomorrow!

 
*Brother Victor-Antoine d'Avila-Latourette  From a Monastery Kitchen. Liguori/Triumph, 2002. p 3.

Breakfast in the Car

I thought I would give you a taste of what my eating habits are, before I start "eating like a monk." This past week I ate most breakfasts in my car on my way to work. Bagels and cereal were on the menu in the mornings. Some of my lunches included a peanut butter sandwich, a sandwich from a coffee shop, and American-Chinese food from a chain grocery store. For supper in front of the television I had things like ravioli and broccoli, and black bean burritos. Wednesday nights is usually my most lovely meal when I meet with my group of girlfriends. We eat potluck style, together around the table, someone usually says grace and we check in about how we are doing spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. That is more like it.

Sometimes I get annoyed that I have to take time to eat, other times I feel like food is the most glorious thing on the earth. Growing up in a lower-middle class family in Minnesota, I am familiar with potlucks, casseroles, and canned soup; and cookies and lefsa made by the Scandinavian women at church. I have learned to appreciate fine food and food from many different cultures. I often incorporate them into my diet. Sometimes I wonder what I would eat if I couldn’t have food inspired by our Latina/Latino neighbors to the south. I love burritos!

It is easy to start examining food for nutritional value, or for how many calories it will generously provide us with, but I had not, until now, deeply considered the spiritual value of eating. I know there is spiritual value to food; I love to tend my garden, and try to buy less processed foods and more local food as part of being mindful. But the actual act of eating the food is another matter. When I was younger I thought that maybe in the future we wouldn’t eat, we would just take pills that would provide all of our daily needs. I recently realized that we are not so far off. How many times have you eaten an energy bar instead of a meal? I know I have. Life is busy, but for the next month I will try and make time to eat; to feed my body and my soul. We will see how it goes!