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My sister and I are in an open-air market in Gujarat India. The only place to purchase meat nearby is in the discrete little Muslim section. My sister stops before a simple wooden door and knocks. A thin boy appears, shyly nods, then brings out a chicken. He pulls a laced, snowy-white prayer cap out of the pocket of his robe and places it on his head. He quietly bows his head and mouths a prayer. Then he holds the chicken down on the block and chops its head off.
I am struck by the reverence and gratitude this young boy has for this animal. In him, there is no taking for granted this God-created life. In him, there is no sense of dominion over it, but rather only a humble gratitude for this fellow creature, whose life would feed and sustain other lives.
I realize I do not have a sense of reverence for the food I eat each day. I do not bow my head and give God thanks each day intentionally and with true reverence for the food before me. My hope is that in the days ahead, I will pause more, give thanks more.
This message is excerpted from “Food: a sacred moment” by Linda McCarty in the March/April 2024 Gather magazine.