A Piece of Sacredness
Douglas Graves of New York, NY, USA
And whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be. -1 Nephi 3:189
One of the joys of living in the New York City area is the variety of food options available to enjoy. However, we have our favorite spots. Mine happens to be a deli/cafe near my work, so I am familiar with the people who work there.
As I was ordering my food one day, the worker behind the counter began to unroll a tamale from its cornhusk. I jokingly said, “Hey, that wasn’t on the menu! I would have ordered that.” He smiled and said, “Would you like it? I’ve already eaten.” I thanked him, but said my ordered food would be plenty. He broke off some of the tamale, placed it on a piece of aluminum foil, and offered it to me. I gladly took it and began eating the piece of tamale. It was perfect.
It reminded me of the tamales I’ve had all over the country, the friends I’ve shared them with, and the discussions about tamales. I thanked him and told him how delicious it was. Then I took my food and went on my way. As I left, the sacredness of that moment struck me. Here was someone who only knows me in a client/worker relationship, and yet he offered me part of his personal meal.
Jesus and his disciples shared in many meals with many different people. They weren’t always feasts of great splendor. Often they were the simplest meals possible. Yet when they shared with one another, it became much more than a meal. The breaking of the bread has come to symbolize sharing in the Body of Christ. We are asked to “eat in remembrance of the body of your Son.” Yet sometimes, something other than bread reminds us that we are all connected to God.
Prayer Phrase
Peace, be still (Mark 4:39).
Spiritual Practice
Inner Stillness
In the contemplative tradition, silent prayer is about cultivating a quality of inner stillness. You may visualize the story of Jesus calming the storm as a way of entering into this quality of prayer. Notice how churned up the waters of your soul are currently. As you breathe deeply, imagine a sacred stillness forming within you. What might it look like to engage all your relationships and daily tasks from this place of inner stillness? As you move through your day, notice when you feel stirred up and when you experience inner calm. Take note of patterns and themes. Invite all of your noticing into prayer as you continue to grow deeper in God as the source of your life and action.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
