Sabbath Meal

One of the most intimate and beautiful of all our daily habits is meal time. When a meal is an expression of love, attention, and spiritual preparation it can be a soul satisfying experience.

Choose a meal to share with friends or family.

Shop for the ingredients. Choose food and items that you delight in, that bring you pleasure and satisfaction. What you prepare is not for survival and getting by, but instead to enjoy and savor.

Feel the meal. Don’t rush the preparation. Instead, treat your time cooking as a spiritual moment. Turn on some music, turn down the lights, put your phone on silent. Take time to feel, taste, and smell each ingredient: every spice, bread, and vegetable.

Decorate the table.  Make the setting alive with color, candles, and cloth. Set out flowers, placemats, ribbon, or table runners.  Make each place at the table a beautiful invitation to enjoy the bounty of the feast.

Say a prayer. Give thanks for all those who grew, harvested, packed, shipped, and sold the ingredients. Celebrate the bounty of the earth and the beauty of sharing a meal.

Enjoy.  Don’t chow down. Let each bite linger as you savor the seasonings, texture, and combinations. Make conversation, laugh, celebrate the beauty of the moment and the goodness of the food with those at the table.