My birthday in August 2019 was one of those milestones in life. Although my 60th birthday was in early August, the family celebration began in late July when I was surprised with a cooking class for all family members that could be there. It's a day I won't forget because it combined two of my favorites: cooking nutrient-dense, delicious food that was prepared and greatly enjoyed with family. As if that wasn't enough, my children arranged and paid for another very meaningful gift for me!
Last fall, my first grandchild was welcomed into our family. What a gift he has been to all of us! Knowing that the first grandchild was on the way, my children arranged for a high chair to be built for all my future grandchildren to sit in to enjoy family meals. That high chair is ready and waiting for each little new life to enjoy beautiful food that God will provide. The chair is particularly beautiful to me because it was built by human hands from hickory wood especially for my family.
My son, Daniel drove to the outlying area of Salem (Indiana) to place the order for this high chair. He couldn't place the order by googling the man's phone number or looking him up on a website because they don't have a phone and they also don't have a website. The high chair was built by Moses and his grandson who are both Amish. As I'm typing this on a computer, you probably know that I'm not opposed to phones & electronics, but I am appreciative of their skill, the passing on of those skills to the next generation in a family, and the work ethic of their Amish community. They are known in the Salem area for their beautiful hickory rocking chairs. Each chair is unique because the hickory wood is gathered on their land and each piece of wood is unique. The sale of these hickory chairs provides necessary income for their family so my family supported their family.
In a recent phone conversation, I was pleasantly surprised by a woman's request. She called from Rainbow Blossom, a local family-owned health food store that's a routine stop for me. Her phone call was a follow up to a recipe for an Immune-Boosting Drink that I had shared with the store manager. The woman on the phone explained that each year they choose a theme and their 2020 theme is "Connected With Community". She asked for permission to share the recipe with their customers. The recipe for that Immune-Boosting Drink (which I've shared below) was actually created by my daughter, Elizabeth. Both she and I were delighted knowing that someone else might benefit from that warm drink when their immune system needed a little additional support. Rainbow Blossom's theme for 2020 is a reality that I've come to understand and embrace through my own healing journey.
God created us for community. Each of us yearns to belong. From the very beginning of our life, we communed with our mother as we were knit together in our mother's womb. We were so closely connected but we were at the same time, two unique individuals. As I wrote in a previous blog (Breathe and Heal! posted 3/23/19), we are physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual beings. We are connected to others in each of these intricate parts of our being.
As I've wandered along this path of healing, I've developed relationships with many people who directly affect the healing I'm experiencing physically. My physical healing is not isolated because that healing also affects my mental, emotional, and spiritual well being. When I go to the Farmers Market (or purchase from local stores that source local food), I buy food from the people who actually grow the food and supply it to me. I know their names and they know mine. We belong to the same community and they notice when I'm not at the Farmers Market or in their store for a week or two. The dollars I spend directly support their family business, my local community, and its economy.
In previous blogs, I've written about some of the local businesses that I support:
1/16/19 - Tasty Healing Power (local raw honey)
2/22/19 - Where's the Farm (pasture raised meat & eggs)
4/30/19 - Save Time & Money (Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) - fresh local produce)
When I buy from these businesses at the Farmers Market, I'm transferring the dollar bills that God has entrusted to me to use wisely, into the hands of the people that are directly, positively a part of my health and healing journey. Not all of us are called to be farmers in our local community but all of us are called to support one another in community. Thankfully, I'm not called to be a farmer because I'd probably starve! My son, David could tell you that I'm even a lousy gardener! But I'm thankful that others have been called and are gifted in their trade. That allows me the opportunity to support them and further allows me the opportunity to take their nutrient dense food into my kitchen where I get to do what I enjoy. Our lives are connected!
Our need to be connected goes far beyond physical food. Radha Agrawal, author of the book, Belong, explains that 85% of people treated in mental hospitals don't have a friend to confide in. They might have some relationships but not a relationship that would allow them to speak honestly and from the heart. 1 in 4 Americans has ZERO friends! Radha Agrawal says, "Loneliness and isolation is our fastest growing epidemic." It's critical to our mental and emotional health that we have a few people that we can confide in. A spouse might fill that role along with a few close friends that we can talk honestly with, cry with, or who will just listen. We need to know that we belong to a community that cares. We're all looking for someone to be, "Jesus with skin on".
Before Alan passed away, he was the primary person that I confided in, cried with, and talked things through. That was one of the many roles he provided for me and I think I provided for him as well. Since his death in June, 2015, I've had a few other people that have stepped into that role for me. Sometimes, it's a different family member or friend depending on the topic or situation. It's been an important part of my healing to have that kind of mental and emotional support. For our mental and emotional health, we all need a few people that we can honestly talk with about anything! Social media is wonderful for posting pictures and connecting with family & friends about activities in our lives. But the number of "friends" we have on-line is no replacement for our created longing to deeply connect with others.
Radha Agrawal stated on a podcast in November, 2018 that, "The most generous act we can do as human beings is create community." God created us for community and He's empowered each of us with gifts to share with one another within our communities. We're each challenged to reach out to others, notice them, respect them, and love them as they are.
Spending some quiet time reflecting has helped me discern where and how I'm being called at this time in my life. How and where might you be called to connect with community? God has graciously shown me a number of ways that I'm called to be connected with my community. For each of us, the answer will be somewhat different because each of us is uniquely created in His image. We all long to belong!
Below, you'll find Elizabeth's recipe for the Immune-Boosting Drink. You'll also find my Asian Salad Dressing that calls for garlic cloves and fresh ginger root. That salad dressing includes pure maple syrup which is another local food that I purchase at the Farmers Market. The dressing is tasty on salad but it's delicious poured on some stir-fried or roasted vegetables. Because it contains extra virgin olive oil, I would not recommend that you cook with it since olive oil becomes unstable when it's heated.
