If you’ve not got your copy yet, or you’ve had a read and want to know how you could put it into practice, here are some of my tips and reflections:
Change starts at home
When I first read Simply Eat, I’ll admit that I felt a little overwhelmed by the sheer wealth of opportunities we have to share food and faith. There were so many ideas, and the beauty of each person’s story was so captivating that I wanted to emulate it all in my own life – if only I knew where to start.
That’s when I heard about Lydia:
“I began cooking my way through it today. The kids loved the meat loaf and I was able to tell them the inspiring story behind it. This book brings so many of my passions together!”If you’re like me and aren’t sure where to start, then I’d recommend following Lydia’s example by cooking the recipes for yourself or family at home first. It’s the perfect way to work through the book, sharing stories with your children and loved ones, and when you get more confident with the recipes, why not invite a neighbour round to join you?
Everyone brings something to the table
One of the things I really loved about the book was the value it gives to everyone around the table, not just the person hosting or cooking. It has reminded me to treat everyone at the table as if they have something unique and profound to offer – because they do.
You don’t have to be the‘hostess with the mostest’
The main encouragement that I took from Simply Eat was the fact that hospitality isn’t about your culinary skills or how big your dining room is. It’s just about making people feel welcome and extending the love of Jesus to them.
A great example of this was Gavin Calver’s piece, where he admits he probably wouldn’t win Masterchef, but loves to offer to pray for the waiting staff whenever he eats out with his wife, Anne. Simple things like this take courage, but they could totally change a meal from just a dining experience to a potentially life-transforming encounter.
Jesus doesn’t waste food
Ultimately, nothing is wasted in God’s kingdom. Any meal we share with others, whether we get to share the gospel or not, will be a powerful witness to God’s generosity and the way that He so readily welcomes us. God will not waste the opportunity to show His love and grace to others, so by extending the invite to friends and neighbours, we are creating space for God to move in their hearts through our actions, even if we don’t see the results straightaway.
I hope you enjoy reading Simply Eat as much as I did. But, more than that, I’m excited to see God transforming hearts, homes and communities as we all discover the God-given power of combining food and faith.
This article first appeared on eauk.org
Simply Eat is a coffee table book designed to inspire Christians to share Jesus around food.
From a BAFTA award-winning writer to a former Hindu priest, and from a poetic schoolgirl to a celebrity chef, Simply Eat is an inspirational collection of stories and recipes celebrating the power of food and faith.
