“One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.” - Luciano Pavarotti
This is a lovely quote, isn’t it? Busy as life may be, we all love the necessary pauses. They may come early in the morning, at noon days or in the evenings. Where one has to stop to eat. As Pavarotti put it, it is our necessary daily devotion.
Sometimes it is a meet and eat thing, where appointments are made over a lunch. In the evening, the family put everything aside to devote time to eating and to one another. We have been enjoying the post-Service refreshment time in the communal hall. Good food and good company. These are life’s priceless moments.
It is strange how some see eating as a luxury in life. Or worse, as if it is a vice. I defer. I think God create life with these necessary pit-stops to renew and slow us down that we may think, rest and get some perspective. This include our daily naps and sleep. These are healing moments.
Having heard from the famous tenor, let us hear these word from the Old Preacher:
"Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward." (Ecclesiastes 5:18)
Another important pit-stops are our daily prayers. These do not need to be long. Reading God’s Word and praying – and some of these can happen before meals – can make a huge difference to the day. I spoke about this last weekend.
Take this ancient prayer or grace as an example:
“Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for all thy mercies, and make us mindful of the needs of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
This can be easily memorized. It is a short and meaningful prayer.
Indeed, God has made life with all these necessary pit-stops. We can see in in the recent F1 race. If drivers ignore them, they won’t be able to finish the race.
Life goes on and on, round and round, with fresh demands in each lap. It all never ends.
I am glad that life also come with the daily devotion to eat, rest, meditate and pray.