eating as entertainment

Steak, Martinis, Jami's mom, Gaby, and sister, Jennifer, and our niece Grace: all make for a wonderful evening of eating. Note Grace's special panache with pasta.
I attempted recreating a martini I'd had here in Durham: 1/3 Hendrix gin, 2/3 Chopin vodka. Jami reminded me at the last minute that the special thing about that martini was the cucumber soaked in brine; to me, the big olives don't lose any of the excitement of this martini.
The steak: a veal porterhouse - raised on a farm in western SC. I think that I would eat it again.
Meals bring us together - that is why the central sacrament of the Church is a meal, a bringing together and lifting up; and why all through scripture, the eschatological kingdom is a feast.
Something more than consuming food goes on in a meal.
Just like a painting is more than a representation or an expression.
Just like our bodies, which can be analyzed physically, have souls, the essence of which escapes observation.
Human life cannot be reduced to its mechanics - or when it's attempted a comic effect is produced.
Eating is more than the consumption of proteins for breakdown into amino acids.
And so it is.

Another step closer

Today I preached the sermon on Hebrews to a room of ministers and elders on the examination committee; I answered questions on polity, theology, bible and worship. All went well - a good time was had by all. Now all that remains is presentation to the presbytery at the September meeting, and then, all going well, an ordination service. It's all wonderfully exciting, and I'm terribly exhausted. Jami is thrilled. She encourages me so much. I wish that she could have been here.
For now: I'm happy but tired. Martha Moore-Keish mentioned a martini - that would be good: a Grey Goose, straight up with three olives; or a Plymouth, dirty, with three olives. Tomorrow I'll celebrate. Tonight a quiet evening at home with the cats and a movie, or two.