Tuna & Pasta
No matter where life takes me I will be content.
I wonder wow many people can truly say that.
For me, it comes down to a simple decision. I am either content with the life circumstances I find myself in or I worry, complain and fear what tomorrow holds. And the latter doesn't help me or change anything.
So when the cupboards are left with a couple of cans of tuna and some pasta, I will be thankful for food to eat. I learned that lesson when I lived in Brazil. No, not because I didn't have food in my cupboards, but because of the Brazilians who would welcome me into their homes and gladly serve me a plate of rice - the only food they had - without embarrassment or shame. Just the opposite - they were honored that I, an American, had come to their home. And they were happy to let me be served first as their guest.
Tonight I met a man in my city that would be considered poor. Not by Brazilian standards mind you, but almost as poor as you'd find in Canada. He has no wealth and is living in an apartment that is funded by social services. We chatted about coffee shops and the new downtown renovations. He told me his age and that he moved here in 1991, the same year I landed in Canada.
Although I have seen this man around town many times I have never talked with him. And in the 5 or 10 minutes that we chatted it was obvious that he was enjoying some conversation. That's when he invited me to join him for supper - every Monday and Thursday at 4:30PM - at one of the local "soup kitchens".
Perhaps he was a perceiver and knew about the tuna and pasta.
I told him that I would come one day - on a Monday or Thursday. Maybe I could learn more about being content.
Oh yeah. How could I forget.
The secret to being content will probably help too.
Even if that means eating tuna and pasta.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
[ Philippians 4:12 ]
I wonder wow many people can truly say that.
For me, it comes down to a simple decision. I am either content with the life circumstances I find myself in or I worry, complain and fear what tomorrow holds. And the latter doesn't help me or change anything.
So when the cupboards are left with a couple of cans of tuna and some pasta, I will be thankful for food to eat. I learned that lesson when I lived in Brazil. No, not because I didn't have food in my cupboards, but because of the Brazilians who would welcome me into their homes and gladly serve me a plate of rice - the only food they had - without embarrassment or shame. Just the opposite - they were honored that I, an American, had come to their home. And they were happy to let me be served first as their guest.
Tonight I met a man in my city that would be considered poor. Not by Brazilian standards mind you, but almost as poor as you'd find in Canada. He has no wealth and is living in an apartment that is funded by social services. We chatted about coffee shops and the new downtown renovations. He told me his age and that he moved here in 1991, the same year I landed in Canada.
Although I have seen this man around town many times I have never talked with him. And in the 5 or 10 minutes that we chatted it was obvious that he was enjoying some conversation. That's when he invited me to join him for supper - every Monday and Thursday at 4:30PM - at one of the local "soup kitchens".
Perhaps he was a perceiver and knew about the tuna and pasta.
I told him that I would come one day - on a Monday or Thursday. Maybe I could learn more about being content.
Oh yeah. How could I forget.
The secret to being content will probably help too.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
[ Philippians 4:13 ]
Even if that means eating tuna and pasta.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 11:31 PM.
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8:37 AMTUNA PASTA SALAD
2 (6 1/2 oz.) cans tuna
1 (8 oz.) pkg. tortellini pasta, filled with Parmesan cheese
4 boiled eggs, chopped
Sm. onion, chopped
1/2 c. sweet salad cubes
1/2 c. chopped celery
Mayonnaise
Cook pasta in 2 1/2 quart boiling salted water, approximately 25 minutes. Drain and cool. Add all other ingredients to pasta. Mix with mayonnaise to taste. Serve with fruit for a light but filling meal. (May also be used with chicken).
7:12 PM
Yeah, that's a nice recipe, and probably yummy. Too bad most hungry people don't have eggs, onions, salad cubes, celery, mayonnaise or (especially) tortellini!
I met another man on Friday night. He hadn't eaten for 3 days. He probably doesn't even have tuna and pasta. He was just happy to eat a couple of burgers that our church offered him during our weekly free street BBQ.
Then there is Mary. She doesn't have any food either. But she came to church on Sunday. Good for her! (Sarcasm.)
While I was chatting with her before the service we both overheard another conversation going on near us. They were talking about BBQing "awesome steaks" and "huge chicken breats" and how delicious they were. Nothing wrong with them talking. But I wondered what Mary thought.
A steak on the barbie would be nice. Maybe that's what she thought. Then again, knowing Mary she would have reminisced about a time in her life when she had a BBQ. And she wouldn't have even thought about not having food.
I wonder if Mary has learned to be content.
11:40 PM
There are a lot of ways to cheat on a recipe and still make it taste ok. You could always borrow a couple of tbsp of mayo from a neighbour. And you can use ordinary pasta.
It seems to me that belonging to a 'church' that is truly serving our Lord should not have any hungry people among its members.
I wonder if Mary was invited to anyone's home for supper that day when she showed up for church.
If you knew that Mary had no food did anyone else who had the means to invite Mary for a meal, know this?
It certainly would have been high on my agenda to have her over for something to eat and then get her to the grocery store.
I remember a vision I had of a former friend of mine on the street.
It wasn't really clear if he was living on the street or if he was helping on the street.
Which one do you think it was?
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