Good Health

Certainly one of the best ways to good health is to follow a well-balanced diet and the motto of the American Institute of Wine and Food: Moderation, Small helpings, A great variety of food, No snacking, Weight watching and sensible exercise, Above all—HAVE A GOOD TIME.
—Julia Child, The French Chef Cookbook (rev. 1998), iii-iv.

Few of us could live long on a diet of cheese soufflé, salmon mouse, Crêpes Suzette, Chicken Cordon Bleu, and fois gras. The cholesterol alone is frightening! Yet most of us have at least heard of these dishes, thanks to Julia Child. Trying them once in a while is a culinary treat, and, if you’re the one doing the cooking, a nice challenge.

Spiritually speaking, there are practices that few of us could successfully do every day. But occasionally it’s worth doing something out of the ordinary. Fasting, perhaps, or a day of silence, or even a particular yoga position—any of it can be a challenge worth trying, even if it’s not part of your daily spiritual diet.

What such disciplines highlight is that we each do have a daily diet. It may seem like meager stuff by comparison—a morning prayer may be a lot like a simple bowl of oatmeal; a quick glance at a daily devotional calendar may be like mashed potatoes—spiritual comfort food. But it’s the regular spiritual practices—morning or evening prayers, regular reading of scripture, weekly worship—that sustain us in the long run. It’s the occasional Coq-au-vin or Saute de Porc aux Champignons that then feeds the soul in deeper ways.

I hope you’ll find a way to splurge a bit, spiritually speaking this season. Step out of your ordinary routine and try something a bit more challenging. It might not be everyday fare, but it’s still good for the soul. And HAVE A GOOD TIME.

Along the Way, I wish you God’s peace on today’s stage of your Lenten spiritual journey. May Christ’s companionship bless you with confidence for the day, comfort you in trouble, and put a spring of joy in your step.