{"id":313,"date":"2010-01-07T15:41:39","date_gmt":"2010-01-07T15:41:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/prayerplainandsimple\/2010\/01\/the-eucharist-diet-merlot-anyone.html"},"modified":"2010-01-07T15:41:39","modified_gmt":"2010-01-07T15:41:39","slug":"the-eucharist-diet-merlot-anyone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/2010\/01\/the-eucharist-diet-merlot-anyone.html","title":{"rendered":"The Eucharist Diet: Merlot Anyone?"},"content":{"rendered":"

January 7, 2010<\/font><\/p>\n

Day 6<\/font><\/p>\n

Weight: 206<\/font><\/p>\n

Weight lost: 0<\/font><\/p>\n

I weighed in and I’m parked at 206 lbs. Okay… I’m still taking communion each day and praying for my meals. The place and time and company with which I share the Eucharist are differing from day to day, but I’ve been consistent, so far. Other than adding this element into my eating routine I’m not consciously trying anything different.  <\/span>Confession: had another piece of leftover chocolate birthday cake last night. Thanks Miles! <\/font><\/p>\n

I’m seeing no tangible change in the numbers that count, yet. But I sense something shifting, ever so subtly. Nothing like magic, but a kind of adjustment in my psyche… What I’m starting to notice is a change in my awareness. I’m more AWARE when I’m eating and of what I’m eating. I find myself pausing, just a bit. I’m crediting this to God. Why not? I’ve asked him to be present with me as I eat and “bless” it in the ancient sort of way. So perhaps this is how he is making himself a part of my eating-life: He’s turning my attention to say, “Hey, now you are eating, think about that.”  <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

That is a different posture for me. Usually I eat without thinking. If the food is there, I feel free, even obligated, to consume it; it’s a feeling, not a thought that leads me. I’m aware, and I’m taking this as a good thing, a change, a step closer. Food is a gift from God. I’m first conscious, then hopefully thankful, then, hopefully aware that I can choose to say “yes,” or “no.” <\/font><\/p>\n

Granted, nothing is showing on the scale, yet, but on the scale of my mind, maybe the tectonic plates are shifting… We’ll see. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

“God, I invite you to dinner. Please come, speak your mind, and express your preferences. I belong to you. My body is your home. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll eagerly accommodate.” <\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Report: Last night the door bell rang. I opened the door and there stood my dear friend Bill – who is evidently reading along with this blog adventure – holding a paper bag. He smiled, handed it to me and walked off. I should add, Bill lives on the other side of the Twin Cities, so he made this trip through -20 temps just to smile and hand me the bag. I laughed, because instantly I knew what it was. He’d penned on it, “Ask and you shall receive… For sacramental use only.” I then reached in and pulled out a dandy bottle of Merlot… Wow… God is good. So are Marnie and Bill… <\/font><\/p>\n

Now if only someone would show up with a couple airline tickets to Kona! ;o) <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

January 7, 2010 Day 6 Weight: 206 Weight lost: 0 I weighed in and I’m parked at 206 lbs. Okay… I’m still taking communion each day and praying for my meals. The place and time and company with which I share the Eucharist are differing from day to day, but I’ve been consistent, so far.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-eucharist-diet"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Eucharist Diet: Merlot Anyone?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/2010\/01\/the-eucharist-diet-merlot-anyone.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Eucharist Diet: Merlot Anyone?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"January 7, 2010 Day 6 Weight: 206 Weight lost: 0 I weighed in and I’m parked at 206 lbs. 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