For food in a world where many walk in hunger For friends in a world where many walk alone For faith in a world where many walk in fear We give you thanks, O Lord. Amen.
Everyone's been told not to waste food, eat everything thats in the plate, so on and so forth. These things are talked much in sync with the prayers at the dining table. Most of us have been listening to this and passing it on their kids, something like a dining table legacy. My grandma always told me that the morsel you leave without eating will go to the corner of the room to cry and curse...I used to imagine it literally happening and finish my food, gave me relief and always earned a peck on the cheek from my lovely gramma.
Shockingly, What is seen offlate in social gatherings like weddings or parties is that people make it a point to be very particular and pomp with food.....although they keep yapping about how conscious they are about fitness they ruthlessly fill their plates, but eat less, discarding the rest to the mercy of garbage bin. Beats me if they've written their Will to the trash cans just like that. Guess this act indicates the pretentious nature of certain people wanting to show off that without eating what they picked up is actually sign of the rich and famous, that they really don't care or probably that they can afford to throw away more food than what they can eat. I was at a wedding last weekend.....amongst the guests were these beautiful girls dressed in classic evening gowns and expensive sequin sarees, sparkling away like the little light bulbs decorating the hall. They behaved well and looked chic, spoke with an elite verbage and greeted each other with pleasantaries...all in all they did everything that would pass them for an educated and sophisticated contributor to the society....but then, they ate....rather they just had food on their plates and their jaws moved in false praise for each other, discussed their umpteen trips to the beauty parlour to get that 'Oh so perfect look'....they would have laughed if they heard what they were speaking. My feeling of awe for them was replaced by firm disgust, at first I tried to contain myself but thought its better if its vented out, so I got up from my place as they were about to leave their plates, still full of food!, asked them if they liked to doggy bag the food instead of wasting, they looked ludicrously at me and walked away.....suddenly I thougth they'd look better in black outfits and black make up and worshipped satan.
I kept looming over the incident and said a prayer to all those people in different parts of the world who have to manage for days without food or water and even if they get it after having to walk miles and miles, it would not be enough to share with the whole family. The diseases caused due to unhygienic lifestyle, fighting for their very lives whilst running away from butchers of military or paramilitary forces posted their to maintain "peace"....makes me wonder if there is any difference in this situation than to see a scavenger waiting to bite the flesh off of your shoulder. If each of us think that there must be something I can do to make a difference and act on it relentlessly things might start looking up for all of us...least of all that we can do is respect the Earth and save her resources for her much underpriveleged survivors. I hope that someday we have a world where people live in peace and happiness, if each person knows how much of whatever he or she wants and takes only that much to suffice, the world would be a safer/sufficient place to live. Least of all, remember what the prayer means each time you have your food.
Shaheen Fairoze
