To continue our discussion from yesterday, should one eat everything put on their plate…?”
In striving to live more by the word of God, and less by the prospective food on my plate, I knew I wasn’t spiritually advanced enough to give up food entirely. Even Jesus ate food. But I certainly could demonstrate more dominion over it.
Eating too much food was not demonstrating dominion, I felt. It was a form of slavery and left me feeling uncomfortable, if not in the short run, definitely in the long run.
So, I decided I did not have to listen to that haunting voice any longer that bellowed, “Eat everything on your plate.” I needed to listen to God more, and eat only what I needed, and no more.
[I should side step and say, I have not demonstrated this to perfection, lest I mislead you into thinking I have this down pat! I still have moments of temptation that need to be caught and mastered. But have made huge progress over the years. And I’m happy with that. Just so progress keeps happening…]
Freedom from “Eat everything…” has been a huge boon to my happiness, joy and sense of well being. The burden from trying to obey it in the past had a dreadful effect that I never realized at the time.
My wife and I have tried hard to keep it out of our pleas while raising our children. It’s been a challenge, because it was so ingrained in us to eat everything when we were kids.
At times it’s felt like a delicate balance between having them eat everything on their plate so food is not wasted and a sense of discipline was enforced, but not having them eat too much, and also, very importantly, not raising finicky children.
We found peace in learning to trust God more to guide their decision-making. We had to quit seeing them as predisposed to make poor food choices and more as intelligent reflections of a wise Mind that made good healthy decisions. It helped immensely to let God do more of the parenting.
I love watching my son eat only a little bit of food, if that’s all he feels like eating, and walk away from the rest. He’s as fit as can be, and I wish I had been able to do the same when I was a youngster.
At restaurants, we often split meals and share drinks. Four of us can eat for the price of two, and still have leftovers to bring home.
There are many nutritional, dietary and food rules circulating in public thought that threaten harm if not obeyed. Don’t eat too much fat, too much sugar, salt, etc. If one tries to follow all these rules, he might grow paranoid and fearful about eating, just like the climate of fear that has grown up around the “Eat everything on your plate,” rule. But this should not be. Eating should be a simple, straightforward, natural part of life that is no big deal.
Fear and concern about these rules is not going to be solved by wrestling only with the rules and deciding which ones are right and which ones are wrong from a material point of view. The discussion needs to go higher. In fact, to a whole new level, to not of what is materially right, but to what is spiritually right?
Like the lesson I learned from praying during meals rather than getting all absorbed into eating. I realized that food wasn’t the issue. Spiritual mindedness was the issue. And when I put pursuit of spiritual mindedness first, I found greater dominion over my eating habits and fears about them.
Under the influence of the one Mind, you are not going to engage in bad eating habits. You are not going to eat food that harms you. You are not going to lead an indiscriminate life of making poor choices, and then suffering later from them.
The one Mind guides wisely, intelligently, and healthily. The one Mind, listened to and honored, keeps you safe, secure, out of harm’s reach and in the way of health, fitness and balance. The one Mind knows how to do these things without special studies, dietary advice or medical counsel. It’s certainly benefited me over the years.
So, having said all that, what about Paul’s instruction recorded in the Bible, “…whatsoever is put before you, eat…”
What do you think?
Part III tomorrow…
Thanks, Evan. I exercise the least dominion over food at night. More spiritual mindedness at night and less recreational politics on tv after dinner might be the answer! Actually I already suspected this but there can be no doubt when seen in black and white.
After reading this first comment from Anonymous, I can’t resist telling of the time I was in the grocery store meat section, and had asked for a bag of suet for “my” birds — the ones frequenting my bird feeder. Now suet is a type of fat — pure and simple fat. The butcher asked me why I thought the birds could eat and thrive on eating fat, and (without thinking) I answered “because they don’t watch TV!” We laughed together in our recognition that what we’re “fed” via the media is not all good!
Good points, Evan! I always thought ‘eat what is set before you’ referred to the belief that some foods were considered ‘unclean’ in the Jewish tradition, and that had been removed when Peter was shown that he shouldn’t call any thing unclean. (Not what goes in the mouth defiles, but what comes from the heart.) I think, too, that ‘eat what is set before you’ can be used to over indulge
While I try to first look to Spirit for understanding in my food choices, I must recognize that there are principles to health that do involve what I put into my body. These are choices I make and those should be informed choices.
Much like a flower nursery man who grows trees, shrubs, and plants, he must understand the principles that nurture and nourish plants for healthy growth. Simply because the gardener practices CS doesn’t mean he ignores the principles of proper watering, good soil composition and quality fertilizer. Prayer alone doesn’t give a healthy plant. It is the first step but then he must study, and learn and work to produce a healthy crop. Some proactive matter (like soil, water, fertilizer) needs to be added to the seed to allow the plant to thrive. And if it shows signs of yellow leaves or wilting, he will recognize what imbalance or deficiencies is involved and make a correction; all from the study of matter and not spirit alone.
Like the plants, our bodies too require mindful consideration. That means a Whopper, Coke, and fries along with a silent prayer will not be sufficient nourishment for a healthy body.
There are principles behind the expression of a vibrant, thriving, healthy body. Application of those principles means consuming enough fiber to allow the intestinal tract to function properly and drinking sufficient amounts of water for proper function of the circulation and lymph systems. I see these principles divinely created and when I pray for understanding and help, oft times I am impressed to make changes in my diet that reflects more wisdom and balance and closer to a simple diet rather than the man made foods manufactured and synthesized by corporation for shelf life and our convenience.
In reading S&H by MBE, I see where she does NOT advocate we stop eating or drinking. But yet we seem to feel we are betraying our spiritual beliefs if we take thought of what we do eat and drink. While I have no interest in being a dietician and counting calories or monitoring my sodium intake; I do view eating lots of raw vegetables and eliminating white flour and white sugar as beneficial to my health; because they are based on principles of balance for the body. The power that created the body, created it with incredible wisdom and we are not left without the correct fuel for it to function optimally. It isn’t by happenstance.
As I seek understanding in my eating, I can toss out a lot of misinformation about food that is so influenced by the manufactures of food. Yet there are what I believe to be angel thoughts that quietly come to me about simple lifestyles of eating that gives better sleep and the energy to walk and not faint and run and not be weary.
While it seems that anything that smacks of good hygiene is contrary to CS, I remain open to treating my body with consideration and not to ignore the signals of pain as only a cry for prayer. Prayer is very much the essential first step in the process, yet I will be responding in a proactive way to make my lifestyle express and reflect harmony with the world around me. Health is harmony, starting with my first thoughts when I awake in the morning, but it continues throughout the day with better choices of foods to eat; knowing that a salad and soup is better for my body than cookies, soda, and ice cream.
Just a Thought,
Woody
I think it’s really important for me to not get caught up in thinking “the father’s have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge”. Is it any better thinking I’m the size I am today because of my parents than thinking they are responsible for any genetic deformity.
To me the biggest part of healing is realizing what God made me to be overrides any claim coming from matter including parents notions about food. Getting caught up in what my parents did or didn’t do often makes me think there is a reason or excuse for error.
Well there is a lot of meat in this series. 😉
One tidbit I would like to put on your plate is the following: In French culture they eat smaller quantities but use a great deal of imagination, creativity and (yes) express love through cooking balanced healthy meals for their families. Sharing recipes is a joy, a hobby, a fun activity to share.
Eating involves savoring, appreciating the thought that has gone into the preparation as well as an occasion for discussion and togetherness.
Eating and food preparation certainly must have spiritual significance.
Hi Woody,
Thank you for your very thoughtful contribution! The ideas you shared and sentiments expressed certainly do reflect what many people think these days.
I would push back on your one brief comment that “anything that smacks of good hygiene is contrary to CS.” I have no idea where that belief came from. Perhaps it results from a misunderstanding of CS. Excessive hygiene, perhaps, ventures into the realm of heavy physical thought-taking, and that would be counterproductive to spiritual mindedness. Keeping a clean body, though, is certainly in accord.
Aside from that little detour…
On the other points you make about cultivating health in the body…
What you outline sounds reasonable, intelligent, and sensible. I was a farmer, and know all about fertilizing crops!
But this is what brings out the genuis of CS.
Many people still eat the right foods, and do the right hygienic things, but still get sick, and even die from it. So there’s a limit to how far this logic and way of living can take one. And, yes I can see it coming, there are spiritually minded people who do all the right things and have died young too! I understand…
But I look to Jesus for my guidance. He is the Master, as far as I’m concerned, on how to live rightly.
He outlined a spiritual way of living that didn’t focus on diet of matter, but on diet of truth and love. There were dietary laws in his time too, the Jews had many, but he did not teach them. He taught spirituality as the ultimate route to salvation.
So, this is the route I strive to walk down.
I read the papers. I listen to what “experts” have to say about foods. Not that I try too, but how can one not help it if you read any news! I think they have many words of wisdom to share that do help people make wiser choices. But I find it’s best if I keep my primary focus on increasing spiritual mindedness. When I put the worship of God first in my life, and not food, things go much better for me. I find it easier to make sensible food decisions, and not feel guilty about the food I eat, even when I may deviate off of what “experts” say is healthy.
Health truly is a state of Mind, the divine Mind, or mind of Christ, expressed. When we live true to this Mind, life goes along smoother for us.
CS is a purely metaphysical approach to life’s issues, and to the ascending human thought, might seem a bit lofty at times. But nonetheless, it lays out the ideal to strive for. Step by step, even bitty step by bitty step, we will all get to that ideal Jesus lived and demonstrated, and won’t that be a glorious day! In the meantime, I sit at the feet of the Master and do my best to follow his example.
Thanks so much for dialoguing… I have no doubt that you shared thoughts many readers sympathize with.
I fell in love with a slaughterman. We had lots of beef, lamb and pork, much more than I was ever used to, plus we went out and enjoyed cakes every afternoon.
I never lost so much weight.
Love was being expressed in huge amounts and it made me think that the food itself wasn’t the problem at all.
Not taking ‘any thought’ means not taking so much notice. Just buy what you need, eat what you need and have your thoughts so filled with love that nothing else can fill you up.
Even though we all have stresses in our lives, trials, births, deaths, marriages…. we, as human beings, surely can consciously try and keep our thinking ‘above’ the temptation.
After all we don’t all follow other temptations so easily….
Hi Evan,
so glad to have this forum to consider the true meaning of S&H and the impact it has or can have on our personal lives.
In reading S&H, I have indeed come a crossed the topic of hygiene a number of times and felt she was shunning it’s use in daily life. Below are some of those quotes that seem pretty frank as to her opposition to hygiene in the life of a Christian Scientist. Hardly any middle ground, it would appear. yet, I see an expression of spiritual principle by which matter responds. I look to sunshine and rain as gifts from God and essential to my health. The expression of life is seen by our participation in harmonious habits to spirit. She points to abstinence of tobacco and alcohol. I would now carry it much much further. But hopefully for spiritual reasons and not based on research from the New England Journal of Medicine.
But please consider the following quotes from S&H as you think of the working relation between CS and hygiene. Health is harmony and harmony in Spirit is premier and number one goal. Yet, I must give thought and consideration to the foods I eat.
Just a thought,
Woody
He showed that diseases were cast out neither by corporeality, by materia medica, nor by hygiene, but by the divine Spirit, casting out the errors of mortal mind. S&H 138:6
S&H 143:5
It is plain that God does not employ drugs or hygiene, nor provide them for human use; else Jesus would have recommended and employed them in his healing
A Christian Scientist’s medicine is Mind, the divine Truth that makes man free. A Christian Scientist never recommends material hygiene, never manipulates. He does not trespass on the rights of mind nor can he practice animal magnetism or hypnotism. It need not be added that the use of tobacco or intoxicating drinks is not in harmony with Christian Science. S&H 453:24
S&H 167:11
We cannot serve two masters nor perceive divine Science with the material senses. Drugs and hygiene cannot successfully usurp the place and power of the divine source of all health and perfection
To pursue other vocations and advance rapidly in the demonstration of this Science, is not possible. Departing from Christian Science, some learners commend diet and hygiene. They even practice these, intending thereby to initiate the cure which they mean to complete with Mind, as if the non-intelligent could aid Mind! The Scientist’s demonstration rests on one Principle, and there must and can be no opposite rule. Let this Principle be applied to the cure of disease without exploiting other means S&H 457:19
S&H 484:6
Question.–Does Christian Science, or metaphysical healing, include medication, material hygiene, mesmerism, hypnotism, theosophy, or spiritualism?
S&H 484:9
Answer.–Not one of them is included in it. In divine Science, the supposed laws of matter yield to the law of Mind…….Physical force and mortal mind are one. Drugs andhygiene oppose the supremacy of the divine Mind. Drugs and inert matter are unconscious, mindless
S&H 388:31
If mortals think that food disturbs the harmonious functions of mind and body, either the food or this thought must be dispensed with, for the penalty is coupled with the belief. Which shall it be? If this decision be left to Christian Science, it will be given in behalf of the control of Mind over this belief and every erroneous belief, or material condition. The less we know or think about hygiene, the less we are predisposed to sickness.
Hi Woody,
Oh, I see where you’re coming from. The misunderstanding is in the definition of hygiene.
In Eddy’s time, the word hygiene had a whole different meaning than it does today.
Today, we use the word hygiene in reference to keeping a clean body, employing sensible habits to promote health, etc. And that is in total harmony with what CS teaches.
A hundred years ago, the word hygiene was much more materially involved. My understanding is that it involved extensive attention to the body through excessive material care, routines, processes, procedures and time devoted to detailed care of the body. I’m not familiar enough with the details, but I know the word hygiene back then involved an indepth systemitized approach to materially caring for the body which went way “overboard” compared to what we would consider natural and normal today.
So, I don’t think we really disagree with each other. It’s a matter of where we’re coming from in intrepretation of words.