Genesis 1:29 "God also said, 'Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth - everything having the breath of life in it - I have given every green plant for food.' And it was so."
As a Christian, I believe God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. On day three, He created plants and trees and all types of vegetation. After God had prepared a perfect environment, He made humankind on day six. Whether or not you and I share a perspective of faith in God, you probably agree plants exited before humans. Plants are a magical mystery to me; there is so much to learn. Each type is a unique collection of specific elements my body needs to thrive. Some, like my lemon tree, provide vitamins and nutrients while others, like my snake plant, provide oxygen and filtration.
I notice when I'm eating more plants and spending time around plants I feel more... alive. And I'm guessing that's natural, perhaps even by design. I recently read that the human body reads the genetic code of the food we consume and processes each nutrient according to where it is needed within our bodily systems. When food is over-processed, the human body doesn't know what to do with it and sees it as a toxin or foreign substance. It will try to eliminate it from the body, but in the process it can create inflammation, or become stored in fat cells or brain tissue. When I read that, it made me think of my body as phone and food as a charger. I have an android that uses a type-C. If I try to connect it to a usb cord, it not only won't fit, it could cause permanent damage to my phone.
How incredible our bodies are! When I fuel my body with the right things, my body responds with more energy, better focus, improved endurance, increased creativity. And who needs a donut when you could have freshly picked raspberries from your local farm stand? (I call them "nature's gumdrops." My four year old shortened it to "God candy.") And who needs chips when you can bake a fresh baked loaf of sourdough smothered in raw cow's milk butter? (Just imagine the aroma filling every room of your house!) And who needs soda when you can drink home brewed kombucha? (A quick internet search will provide recipes that are older than refrigeration.)
Have you heard the phrase, "food is fuel"? I can totally ascribe to that thought. I believe God provided all that we need within His creation for our enjoyment as well as the optimum health of our body and soul. I want to clarify here that I'm not advocating for a bland and boring diet. The truth is (and fortunately for me) most of my favorite foods just happen to be some of the most healthy. You might get excited about a double bacon cheeseburger while I'm over here drooling about my lentil and cauliflower stew.
Still, even though I don't do it often, I've found that occasionally indulging in things that aren't necessarily healthy can be soul-fuel too. For instance, baking cookies with my girls, or gooey, yeasty cinnamon rolls with my son is an amazing way to create a shared moment, and nourishes the soul of my family (although not our bodies! Ha!)
Taking care of my body by [mostly] consuming fresh vegetables, herbs, legumes, grains, fermented foods, and healthy fats is one way I fuel my soul. Creating experiences with indulgent foods is another. Growing potted plants, herbs, tomatoes, lemons, berries, and flowers and considering the incredible diversity in God's creation is a source of daily soul nourishment in my life. How about you? What is your relationship with plants; can you relate? Whether you're a cheeseburger fan or a broccoli fanatic, I want to hear from you. What fuels your soul? Join my blog to share your thoughts.
