From the Pastor's Pen, November, 2005:

From the Pastor's Pen, November, 2005:

"Comfort Food"

This morning I walked through the kitchen while Michael was eating breakfast. My husband is always a good sounding board, so I bemoaned the fact that I couldn't think what to write about for my pastor's column for the newsletter. "Write about jelly," he said, as he was coaxing the last of the jelly out of the jar with a spatula, "write about comfort food!" Now even though I knew he was being facetious, (or suggesting I write it on the grocery list instead of in the pastor's column) I said "Good idea!"

You know the concept of comfort food, I'm sure—maybe even if you don't call it that. What is it you like to eat when you're feeling down, or stressed, or just want to feel at home, warm and cozy? For Michael it's toast & jelly. For me, it's ice cream. Some people prefer something warm and starchy, just like mom used to make-macaroni and cheese, or scalloped potatoes. Chocolate is pretty tough to beat as a pick-me-up, with scientific studies backing up what people have practiced for years!

When we think of our upcoming Thanksgiving celebrations, perhaps we think of those special foods that will be on the table: turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, squash or sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, endless variations of cranberry sauce and so on. We think also of comfort, home, warmth and family. Traditions come into play as we think about whose dressing recipe we like the best, or which form of pumpkin pie is our favorite. Comfort food. We like it to be predictable, plentiful, and unchanged.

It's amazing what creatures of habit we human beings are, and not just about food choices! We want our lives to be stable, to stay the same. We don't want our routines, our patterns of life and lifestyle to be upset. And if they are, we run for comfort-from food or other sources.

We live in anxious times. The world changed on September 11, 2001, as we in the United States realized perhaps we are not as secure as we had always imagined. This years' devastating hurricanes when many are still reeling from last year's; the tsunamis, earthquakes, mudslides, and flooding around the world; the ongoing war in Iraq; health concerns; soaring gasoline and home heating costs; all leave us feeling anxious, troubled and perhaps fearful about what the future holds. It's enough to send us running for the ice cream, for the comfort foods, or for cover!

But the message that is consistent throughout the Bible, and beyond the Bible to lives of people of faith, is "FEAR NOT." Over and over again, people have received that message from God: "do not be afraid." It's a message that cannot be stated strongly enough. We are called to live our lives free from anxiety, which is easier said than done. But the reality remains—God who is faithful invites us to abundant life, without fear. God invites us to life without anxiety.

Does that mean nothing bad will ever happen? Of course not. Does it mean we should keep a Pollyanna view of the world? No! What it does mean is that no matter what else happens, God loves us, cares for us, provides for us, and desires for us to be in relationship with God and one another. God fills a hunger in us that not even a hot caramel and fudge pecan sundae with Mackinaw Island fudge ice cream can touch.

In the former edition of the Methodist Hymnal, I recall the invitation to Holy Communion saying, "Draw near with faith, and take this holy sacrament to your comfort" That's comfort food of another kind! The Sacraments are means of grace--ways that we can be fed by a relationship with God. Worship-gathering with the Body of Christ-is another. Our personal devotions, study and prayer all help us to "draw near" to God, and experience comfort. As we make a regular practice of being fed by God, the anxiety begins to flow away. And even when it returns from time to time, God is present, God is faithful, God's love is abundant, God's grace is sufficient.

In the life of our church, we have much to be thankful for. In our individual lives of prayer, often the word "thanks" is the first to spring to our lips or to cross our minds. Keep remembering—there is comfort in a loving relationship with God. We may laugh about the temporary comfort we get from warm toast and jelly, but God's comfort is beyond all measure.

I'll close with the words of the medieval mystic, Julian of Norwich. Her words serve as a great reminder of the perspective that comes from a relationship with God:

"All will be well,

and all will be well;

and all manner of things will be well."

May we trust so! May we trust God, day by day.

On the Journey with you,

e-mail Pastor Baker-Streevy