Aj Schwanz

The other day I hit that nasty point: it was gray, the toddler was . . . well, a toddler, and it was close to “Dada’s HOME!” time. What to do until then? Turn on the babysitter which that day happened to be Oprah. She was interviewing Mireille Guiliano, president and CEO of Clicquot and author of French Women Don’t Get Fat which has hit the American bestseller list as a diet/lifestyle book. She describes the French lifestyle which involves pleasure in moderation.

• Rather than eating mass quantities of empty calories, eat hearty, healthy food in smaller portions.
• Rather than cutting out foods, use moderation and eat at a slower pace, spending each moment savoring.
• Rather than working out at the gym, try adding some added activity to your daily life.

In general Americans seem to jump on the next fad, hence the yo-yo effect being present in almost all elements of our lives. Oooh: something new - how can we cram it into our already full lives so that we feel even more empty?

I wonder what it would look like if this book was written about spirituality. Rather than trying to do bible studies and small groups and worship on Sunday and individual devotions and committee work and social work - what if I slowed down and took small, savory bites, being present in the moment with the Spirit? When I fill my life with activities that aren’t so meaningful, I come away hungry, and the general reaction is to try and *do* more stuff.

Pleasure and spirituality don’t seem to be partners; in fact, many people have been against the coupling. Can there be harmony between the two? Should there be? Has there been a deprivation of certain “foods” in our spirituality so that we yo-yo on empty calories?

Where are you being fed and satisfied?