How We Eat

In this season after Epiphany, I notice a tendency in myself to want what the Magi received, a big shiny sign from God, a star or something equally sparkly and noticeable. Over my forty years though, obvious signs from God have been few and being faithful has been noticing God’s more subtle direction and presence.  I have been reminding myself that as followers of Jesus, we are called to live in our everyday world, noticing God’s presence within it.

At this phase in my life, my toddler is one of the noisiest and cutest directors of my attention. One of the books he brings me again and again is “How We Eat,” written by Shuli de la Fuente-Lau. This board book is not religious and yet I notice images of the Holy within it. I notice in the book’s photos the magnificent diversity of God’s people. I notice the joy of eating and sharing. It is a starting point to talk about similarities and differences.

As followers of Jesus, sharing a meal is central to how we practice our faith and see God in the world. I want to teach my toddler about the Holy Mystery, beauty, and possible transformation from receiving Holy Eucharist. I want to explain why I smile when he signs “more” after receiving the bread of Eucharist. I want to teach that every meal we share, wherever we are, has the potential to reveal the Holy. He is two, and that is too big for him right now. So instead, I read “How We Eat” one more time and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for how it is grabbing my toddler’s imagination.

May there be moments like this for you this month.

“How We Eat” written by Shuli de la Fuente-Lau. Published by Little Feminist in 2022.