Chief Longwind Of The North
Certified/Certifiable
Something in the "porn" thread got me thinking. While I agree that the adoration of food is not a wholesome act, and that "adulate excess and overindulgence" is wrong as well, creating the best that we can with whatever is available to us is not. I am thankfull for everything I have, and understand that not everyone is as fortunate as I am, even though I'm far from upper middle class in pay scale. Still, I have a warm home, everyday bills, plus other family related bills, enough food to eat, a steady job and income, and a few toys (my fishing poles and my computer).
IF all I have to eat is rice and beans, then I'm going to make it the best rice and beans that I can, and present it in such a way as to help others enjoy it. I don't know if you were around for our first "Golden Chef" competition, but oats were the theme ingredient. And this humble food was transformed into a main dish, with multiple sides and a desert.
Part of my thankfulness for what I have is to use the skills and talents that I was endowed with to make the most of this world with the resources at my disposal. And If I am not taking from another, or wasting those resources, then am I wrong? Yes I do occasionally over-indulge. I've eaten some very good steaks prepared over charcoal and wood. But I've not done it at another's expense, and in fact, had to sacrifice in other areas to provide such a meal for my family.
I certainly don't worship food. But I do appreciate it. and since I have to eat the stuff, I'm sure going to make that task as enjoyable as I can, and for every member of my family.
You need not eat gruel to be appreciative of what you have. Rather, don't waste it, and keep it in proper perspective. If you use resources to purchase lobster when you should be paying your electric bill, then that is wrong. But if you have set aside the money, and still met your other obligations, and that includes helping others, then go ahead and cook up some lobster tails, or a bone-in rib eye, or your best lasagna.
When I take a picture of a beautiful lake, surrounded by the colorful fall foilage, I take time to compose the picture, get the light settings adjusted, frame the picture, and focus, to get the best picture I can get. I want to savor that image, capture it so that I can relive the joy and appreciation of that beutiful landscape. And so it is with food. I want to enjoy it to the fullest, and with those I love. For me, there are precious few things I enjoy doing that I wouldn't share with anyone else. I can only think of one, braunshwieger (sp), and that's only because no one else in my house can stomach the stuff. And that's about the only food I can think of that I purchase strictly for myself, and then only about twice a year.
Loving food is not wrong, just as loving a woman is not wrong, as long as that woman (and I'm sticking my neck out here, but it is my belief) is your spouse. And it is not even wrong to appreciate her body in private. But all things must be done with respect.
A wolf loves venison. I love venison. What is the difference between me and the wolf? I will try to enhance that venison by cooking techniques and seasonings. Plus, I don't bite my wife on the neck to drive her away until I get my fill. Rather, I offer her the best part. The sole difference between humans and animals is that we have developed, or have been given (your choice) and itellect that allows us to be tender toward each other, to put the needs of others before our own needs. When we perform those acts of selfishness, be they in sex, glutany, lust, or whatever, we transform ourselves into animals once more, denying the nature of our being that makes us different.
It is the act of allowing oneself to behave as an animal that is viewed as wrong, and sometimes horific to most of us.
Humility is the characteristic wherein a person understands that he/she is imperfect, and has much to learn. It allows us to put down our stubborness and defensive walls so that we can grow from the experience and wisdom of others.
Thankfullness is the characteristic of understanding that it is not by our own power that we are even alive, but rather, by the choices of our parents, and of the many people around us, and whatever you believe created this world upon which we live, and paying gratitude to those that have made our lives a little bit more grand.
Wisdom is the ability to look at the world, weighing it against what we have learned in our lives, in order to make better choices than we did when we had less experience.
Be thanfull for your food. Be humble in partaking of it. But enjoy it thoroughly for what it is, and present it to your best ability for others to share with you.
Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North
IF all I have to eat is rice and beans, then I'm going to make it the best rice and beans that I can, and present it in such a way as to help others enjoy it. I don't know if you were around for our first "Golden Chef" competition, but oats were the theme ingredient. And this humble food was transformed into a main dish, with multiple sides and a desert.
Part of my thankfulness for what I have is to use the skills and talents that I was endowed with to make the most of this world with the resources at my disposal. And If I am not taking from another, or wasting those resources, then am I wrong? Yes I do occasionally over-indulge. I've eaten some very good steaks prepared over charcoal and wood. But I've not done it at another's expense, and in fact, had to sacrifice in other areas to provide such a meal for my family.
I certainly don't worship food. But I do appreciate it. and since I have to eat the stuff, I'm sure going to make that task as enjoyable as I can, and for every member of my family.
You need not eat gruel to be appreciative of what you have. Rather, don't waste it, and keep it in proper perspective. If you use resources to purchase lobster when you should be paying your electric bill, then that is wrong. But if you have set aside the money, and still met your other obligations, and that includes helping others, then go ahead and cook up some lobster tails, or a bone-in rib eye, or your best lasagna.
When I take a picture of a beautiful lake, surrounded by the colorful fall foilage, I take time to compose the picture, get the light settings adjusted, frame the picture, and focus, to get the best picture I can get. I want to savor that image, capture it so that I can relive the joy and appreciation of that beutiful landscape. And so it is with food. I want to enjoy it to the fullest, and with those I love. For me, there are precious few things I enjoy doing that I wouldn't share with anyone else. I can only think of one, braunshwieger (sp), and that's only because no one else in my house can stomach the stuff. And that's about the only food I can think of that I purchase strictly for myself, and then only about twice a year.
Loving food is not wrong, just as loving a woman is not wrong, as long as that woman (and I'm sticking my neck out here, but it is my belief) is your spouse. And it is not even wrong to appreciate her body in private. But all things must be done with respect.
A wolf loves venison. I love venison. What is the difference between me and the wolf? I will try to enhance that venison by cooking techniques and seasonings. Plus, I don't bite my wife on the neck to drive her away until I get my fill. Rather, I offer her the best part. The sole difference between humans and animals is that we have developed, or have been given (your choice) and itellect that allows us to be tender toward each other, to put the needs of others before our own needs. When we perform those acts of selfishness, be they in sex, glutany, lust, or whatever, we transform ourselves into animals once more, denying the nature of our being that makes us different.
It is the act of allowing oneself to behave as an animal that is viewed as wrong, and sometimes horific to most of us.
Humility is the characteristic wherein a person understands that he/she is imperfect, and has much to learn. It allows us to put down our stubborness and defensive walls so that we can grow from the experience and wisdom of others.
Thankfullness is the characteristic of understanding that it is not by our own power that we are even alive, but rather, by the choices of our parents, and of the many people around us, and whatever you believe created this world upon which we live, and paying gratitude to those that have made our lives a little bit more grand.
Wisdom is the ability to look at the world, weighing it against what we have learned in our lives, in order to make better choices than we did when we had less experience.
Be thanfull for your food. Be humble in partaking of it. But enjoy it thoroughly for what it is, and present it to your best ability for others to share with you.
Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North
