An email (Response #7)

Mr. Wirzba,

Hello, my name is Micah, and I am reading your book Living the Sabbath right now. I find much of the message refreshing and reminiscent of lectures and lessons learned long ago. There is one section that I’ve read that particularly caught my attention. “Eating as a Sabbath Witness” in Chapter 1 drew my attention because this semester in my Honors class at college we are talking about food production. That is not why it initially pricked my interest though. Originally, when I read the section title I was excited because I love food. Besides just eating, I love the interaction, camaraderie, bonding, fellowship, and hardship that come alongside the table. I think it is an immensely valuable aspect of our lives that Western-American culture and a majority of Western-American churches (that I am familiar with) have forgotten/neglected.  You said, “Eating… is one of the most fundamental ways we know for communicating our life together as a gift gratefully received and cherished.” I wholeheartedly agree. I love through food. When I cook a meal for my family or friends I pour myself into it. I want them to feel loved and cared for, and I try to even give it to them physically by sustaining their bodies with food and their souls with taste. But the sheer magic of food is community and fellowship. A wonderful, blessed tool of the Lord for humanity. It heals and revives lost lives. It forges and weaves eternal relationships. So, I have a question for you. Why, do you think, has the church abandoned the holy table? Why have we forgotten one of the most powerful instruments of reconciliation and friendship? I really have not heard a message or sermon on hospitality lately. I also believe that a stress on provisions opens the door wide open to, as you said, “Jesus Christ, who is called our true and drink.” So, I am just curious as to your take on the de-emphasis of the food and the table.

Another area in which I have questions is in regards to food production. You talk of how we have “reduced the gifts of God to ‘products’ or ‘commodities.’” We have stripped away the inherent value of the blessings we call food, land, and the earth. We spoil the waters with chemicals, we but the animals with blades, and we contrive new plants to better suit or needs (or wants depending on how you look at it). Now, please do not misunderstand me. I do have much concern for the present and future state of many environments, but I have a question. At what point does concern for the land/animal/plants override the need/desire/convenience of men? Yes, we have done some ecologically irresponsible deeds. On the other hand, we have provided a mountain of food. We have made cheap food accessible. People complain now at how hard it is to get fresh produce for a lot of America and the rampant onset of food deserts. How would this scenario increase if yields were dramatically decreased due to a dearth of fertilizers? What I am trying to get at is when do the needs of humanity become more important than the needs of a herd of cattle or a field of corn or a creek?

Thank you for your time,

Micah Forshee