Spiritual Nutrition

“Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly.” ~M.F.K. Fisher, American Writer (1908-1992)

Our hostess took my hand and led us through the streets of the city. Teresa, Zafar and Jeanne were close by. Though the streets were busy with people there were no cars and only a few bicycles. Strange smells embraced us…unidentifiable foods frying. We passed numerous sales stalls…household utensils, used clothes, hand made items, a makeshift barbershop and bars…strains of unfamiliar music reached our ears. Our protectress guided us carefully along; avoiding ruts and debris in our path, my hand clasped carefully in hers.

“What is the name of this street?” asked Zafar casually. “Name?” She looked at Zafar somewhat puzzled. “The street doesn’t have a name.” “Why name a street?” she continued. “How do people know where you live?” Zafar persisted. She stopped for a moment and looked up at him. “Everyone knows where we live.” We paused a moment then continued on, turning left down a side street.

“Mzungu, Mzungu,” the children called out behind us, trying to get our attention. Laughing and waving when we turned to look. Stepping up onto a large concrete pad which resembled a loading dock, we headed down a narrow passageway between two tiny residences. Turning left we came to a dead end…two doorways to our left and one to our right…we had arrived. Removing our shoes we stepped inside the first door on our left. It was the home of our hostess.

The room was the size of my office. It was one of two such rooms the family of six occupied. There were two small settees and a tiny easy chair surrounding a coffee table leaving just enough room for our legs. Two heavily used wooden chairs were placed near the door we had entered for two women from the same parish as our hostess. Holy Cross Parish is divided into nine small faith sharing communities or districts. The three women (our hostess and the two who sat by the door) were district leaders.

We were in the heart of Dandora, Kenya…

The next one and one half hours were spent pleasantly. After meeting our hostess’ children we stepped outside for a photo opportunity. Then we returned to the house. Food appeared on the coffee table: pineapple, melon, red skinned peanuts, catsup flavored potato chips and soda in glass bottles (Coke, orange and ginger flavored). As we snacked we chatted about our lives, our church, our faith, our worlds. I had forgotten what it was like to share food with others, flavored with rich conversation, and without the rush of having to be somewhere or feeling pressured to do something.

Before we knew it, it was time to go. Outside the door we pulled on our shoes. With our three newest friends we walked back the way we had come, along unnamed streets to the church building from which we had started. We said goodbye and stepped onto our bus. Our friends waved a farewell then turned and headed home.

There is something sacred about food. Breaking bread; sharing food with one another, is not simply about nourishing the body. It is also about nourishing ourselves spiritually and emotionally. The visit we made to a small home in Dandora was not just about making friends, being missionaries or learning how our Kenyan brothers and sisters live and survive. In many ways it was about renewing our connection to the spiritual universe thereby renewing ourselves. The sharing of food and taking time for others means sharing something of ourselves and receiving something in return. It means sharing our spirits and experiencing the spirits of others.

We need this spiritual nutrition. Sustenance is not simply food and drink it is about sharing our being, our life force with one another. This spiritual nutrition can only come through interaction: sharing, presence and participation…communion with others. We can’t get spiritual renewal at the drive up window of our local fast food restaurant or by eating in our car on the way to our next appointment. There is no "spiritual fast food". Spiritual nutrition comes from eating and drinking together and experiencing one another anew each time.

What I am suggesting isn’t easy. We live in a fast paced world. I often arrive home late from work. Even though Teresa has already eaten, she sits down at the dinner table with me while I eat so we can share our day’s experiences. Being good stewards of our time means taking the time to sit down to meals with one another…to be present to them…to interact with them…to share our lives with them.

Just as we should set aside time each week to pray and to worship; we must set aside time to renew ourselves spiritually by sharing food with our families and friends. I know life is busy and there is much to do. As a working couple we have struggled with this for a long time. Several years ago Teresa and I made a pact: Thursdays and Sundays are sacred. Those two evenings each week, we sit down to dinner together: sharing food and sharing our life experiences. Sharing is loving and being loved nourishes our spirits.

Dear God: Help me to take the time to nourish my body, mind and spirit.


“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” ~J.R.R. Tolkien, English writer, poet, philologist and university professor; author of "The Lord of the Rings" Trilogy (1892-1973)


© 2010 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

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