The food of contentment

I’ve learned a lot about dominion over eating by watching my son’s response to food over the years. He’s 16 today, and what I call a “slim-jim.” He’s always been thin and has never had food or eating issues.


He’s been an inspiration to watch because I was never the way he is. I was raised to eat everything on my plate, overeating was okay, stuffing yourself was normal on occasion, and so on. He has never believed any of this or accepted it. He has really been in touch with God on this subject.


What I’ve noticed in watching him is that he always stops eating when he’s full. It’s very simple for him. It doesn’t make any difference how much food is on his plate, what is being served, or even if his favorite dessert is available. He simply, flat out, will not eat it if he is full. And by "full" I don't mean stuffed or really full. I mean "just enough." He fills easily, with moderate portions of food. He will walk away from any food without giving it a second thought and not feel any loss at all if he figures he’s had enough to eat.


My explanation for his dominion over eating is the spiritual peace he feels within between himself and God. He does not equate happiness or contentment with material food. It’s a spiritual thing for him, not necessarily a conscious understanding, but a profound feeling he was born with that guides his decision-making in regards to food. He could “care less” about it, you might say. Food is definitely a “no-big-deal” for him.


I find major lessons about attitudes toward food in watching him. He lives out, without realizing it, Jesus admonition to “Take no thought about what you eat.” He doesn’t, either for pleasure or for entertainment. He has greater things to do with his life than idolize food.


And perhaps that is a key point—idolizing food.


To idolize food is to make a god of it—to bow down to it, honor it, worship it, fear it and live one’s life around it. This is a direct violation of the First Commandment, have no other gods than the one God.


When we focus immense attention on the content of food, the ramifications of what we eat, what to eat, what not to eat, and so on, haven’t we made food into a god? And it’s a god that is not God! So, what power is there in it? None!


I like my son’s attitude, and I’m still learning from it.


I like to cook. I like to try new recipes. I like to try new foods. I appreciate fine cooking. But sometimes, I have to stop and wonder, “Do I need to back off here and get my perspective on what real food is better in view?”


Food, the raw stuff that really matters, is not material. It’s spiritual. And when we find it in Truth, take it in, hold on to it and understand it, genuine contentment, satisfaction and joy settle into thought. It then becomes easy to walk away from the table. It’s easy to say no to unnecessary desserts. And it’s easy to not overeat.


Like my son, there are vastly more important things to do in life than take thought for food.


The food that leads to settled contentment comes from above and is built into our being. We’ve had it all along. God gave it to us. And there isn’t anything from the grocery store that can augment it.