So I had a conversation with my friend Robby, via Skype, the other day. He is the one who did this fast before I did and really encouraged me to do it. So we had this great conversation about what I had learned. Then he wrote about it for his blog and I am stealing what he said because his words are so much better than mine. So here is what he wrote:
"My friend Emily did the beans and rice diet like I did last year, and she learned brilliant truths from it just like I did. This is what she told me:
I used to feel guilty for eating and taking pleasure in a fine meal because of my awareness of other people’s dire hunger. I almost felt like I wasn’t worthy to be indulging in nice food, like I needed to share in their suffering.
But now I see it differently. Not eating, or not enjoying what I do eat, isn’t helping to solve the problem. There’s enough food in the world. If that were the problem, then denying myself for others might be helpful. But that’s not the problem. The problem is criminal mismanagement.
Right now, I am sitting at a dinner table with six chairs. Now, if there were a meal set in the middle, but only enough food for five people, then the right thing for me to do would be to eat less than my share, and to make sure there was enough food go around.
But that’s not the problem we face.
The problem looks more like this: there’s a large meal set in the middle- there’s enough food to feed nine people. The problem is that our world food system has mismanaged in such a way that there’s something of a wall set up in the middle of the table. Only one side gets to eat, and eat a lot. They get to eat so much that they have obesity in literally epidemic proportions. The other side gets to starve.
In this situation, eating less isn’t going to help those people on the other side.
Taking down the wall will. "
I also have a few things to add. God is GOOD and he is a loving God. He did not want anyone to suffer in the world. He allows it to happen, but He doesn't like it. So He wants us to enjoy ourselves, and enjoy the resources that He has created. We shouldn't take advantage of them nor should we not be grateful, but He wants us to enjoy them because He LOVES us. He doesn't want starvation, but it does exist. And He wants us (His children) to do something about it. But like Robby said, well actually I said but he wrote, we should be able to take pleasure in a good meal because that is what God created! We shouldn't feel guilty when we have the ability to eat something that is delicious even when there is starvation in the world. We should enjoy the amazing things that God has created! The crazy thing is that He created it for US. For US. That rocks my mind sometimes!!!!
So be grateful that we live in a place where we are able to go to the grocery story every day if we wanted to. We have access to resources all around us, and we should be so thankful! So all I am saying is don't feel guilty when you have something nice, but be joyful and thankful that God created it for us, that He has blessed us! God is Good all the time and I am so thankful for what He has given me and it cause me to praise His name!!!! I hope it makes you praise his name too!
P.S. thanks Robby for putting my words into writing! And this is my Favorite pic of Robby and I in Philly, he looks like a creeper, but he really isn't!
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