A Food Discernment Meditation

1. Did you know that in 2010, the U.S. food supply provided enough food to feed one person 4000 calories per day? On average, Americans consume 2,507 calories per day, an increase of 22% from 1970. Read more facts concerning the United States food system.
2. Did you know that food production accounts for 83% of food emissions? Only 4% of these emissions come from the delivery from the producer to your plate. Read more about the impacts of food production in relation to food miles.
3. Did you know that livestock production has large environmental impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, land and water use? Food production is responsible for one quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, with 61% of that quarter coming from livestock (including animal feed and land use).  Learn more about the environmental impacts of food and agriculture.
4. Did you know that it takes 660 gallons of water to produce one beef hamburger? Diet makes up the largest part of a person’s water footprint, even when compared to taking long showers or flushing the toilet every time it’s used. Find out more about water used in food production.
5. Did you know that the global demand for meat is growing? In the past 50 years, meat production has more than quadrupled. The world now produces more than 320 million tons each year, with over 80 billion animals being slaughtered. Read more about global meat and dairy production.

A Creation Justice Meditation For Lent

Then after he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this and remember me…..After the meal, Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands and said, “This is my blood, and with it God makes his new agreement with you. Drink this and remember me.” Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.

Communion is one of two sacraments in the United Church of Christ. For us, sacraments are ritual actions in worship which, according to Scripture, were instituted by Jesus. In the sacraments of baptism and communion we ask the Holy Spirit to use water, bread, and wine to make visible the grace, forgiveness, and presence of God in Christ.

Communion is also called the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist, meaning “thanksgiving,” Christians hear, taste, touch and receive the grace of God revealed through Jesus Christ in a unique way. Communion is a joyous act of thanksgiving for all God has done, is doing, and will do for the redeeming of creation.

What if a spirit of communion existed outside the sanctuary and in the living of our lives? What if every food purchase, meal cooked, bread broken, wine shared with friends became a spiritual act? What if we heard the voice of Christ saying “remember me” whenever we do these things? What if we chose our food not only upon how it impacted our health but also upon how it impacted our neighbors and all of creation?

A faith practices is a habit that we choose to follow because it draws us closer to God. Prayer, study, hospitality, mission, ministry, justice work, sabbath, silence: this is a partial list of those practices. If we increase our mindfulness toward our food choices, we may at diet to the list.

Prayer: Creator, we echo the words of the Psalmist, “The Earth is yours and the fullness thereof.” May our actions also echo those words.