The Stuff of Life

This is the bread which came down out of heaven

                                                                Jesus  (John 6)

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this is the bread

bread

the stuff of life

not the caviar of life

not the filet minion of life

not the ice cream of life

but the bread

plain basic stuff

the stuff that even the poor

the “least of these” can live on

(yes top-ramen might work today)

not fancy bread

garlic sourdough

not designer bread

but plain basic Safeway bread

ok, maybe whole wheat

but basic

the stuff many disdain
(it has gluten, I just know it, and all those carbs)

Ah we have our suspicions
and in our privileged state
might choose not to go with what seems like
such "inferior" stuff

but we must eat it!

not nibble on it,

but munch, and crunch!

we must tear and gnaw (thus saith the Greek words for eat)

we must chew

and swallow

ingest

assimilate

into the core of our being

this bread

Ah

but what is it?

is it the Sacred itself

which brings what we need to live

not a privileged life (although some would preach this message, yes I am talking to you Joel O)

not a life without some hunger

not a gourmet life

but a real life

a grounded life

fed by bread

by love, compassion, forgiveness

by the basic stuff

so we can not only live

but flourish

so that we can be alive, not just physically but

morally

spiritually

(the kind of food we eat is imprinted in our lives)

so that we can be so connected with the Sacred

that we will be connected

forever