Bread

Making bread is one way I keep in touch with how life really works. The interdependence between me and yeast to produce a delicious and nutritious food helps me to remember that I am not the only worthwhile species of life on the planet. I consider the hard work that it takes to grist the flour I use for my bread. I have seen how hard my friends work on their farm. I can appreciate how much land and water are required to produce enough flour for one loaf of bread. I think of all the people who work hard in a flour mill at low wages. I consider the truckers who get the flour to my store. The stocking clerks who unpack the boxes and place the crisp bags on the shelf. All this comes to mind as I make my bread.

Some people make bread to sell. Others make it to impress. There are millions who still make it to survive. I know bakers who simply make bread for the anticipation and eventual joy of that first fresh bite. I make bread for some of these reasons, but I use the process of making bread to keep me aware of what it means to be a living being in concert with others on a hospitable planet. This is one example of the practice of mindfulness.