Bread

Today I am engaged in one of my favorite spiritual practices. I am baking loaves of fresh homemade honey wheat bread.

I'm not sure the reason this baking feeds me so much. For me, it is just every bit as powerful as a meditation or a prayer circle. I never was involved in any baking growing up; my brother and I assumed the traditional male roles of our family so were never in the kitchen other than to eat. My mother in addition did not have baking as one of her favorite things to do.

There are some households where cooking becomes a community event. Years ago I did some community theater. I was involved in a production of "The Sound of Music." I played Uncle Max and lived next door to the building where we rehearsed. I wanted to help the production in terms of the cast bonding together. So I invited all the Von Trapp children to our house (without their parents) for a homemade Saturday breakfast - with the kids doing the cooking of the bacon, fried potatoes, and pancakes. They all came and we then proceeded to put the food together and had a delightful morning prior to the rehearsal.

Years later I was in a local mall when this beautiful woman came up to me. She had a big smile on her face and she gave me a passionate hug and embrace. I was sure I had never seen her before. As I looked at her, she looked at me and said with joy and enthusiasm, "Uncle Max, don't you remember? It's Liesel and we had breakfast together." Such are memories.

We as human beings get caught up in all the things we need to do for each other. The actions need to be profound and deep in order to have lasting value and be remembered.

Yet I know that when I listen to Rachel, my wife, talking to her daughter they often talk about upcoming birthdays and anniversaries. She will ask her daughter what she would like as a present. I'm always so happy (but not surprised!) to hear her daughter say, "I want some time with you mom!"

This is the truth! It is not about the money we are making. It is about the memories we make. Many people I know state the richest times in their lives had nothing to do with home, great wealth, or material things they had.

So this week I challenge you to contact a family member, a dear friend, or someone you'd like to get to know. Schedule time together and go build some memories. They are the structures that will last in your mind.