Be a Sassy Cow

SATURDAY

BREAKFAST: homemade granola with raisins and skim milk. and COFFEE.

LUNCH: black bean soup with tortilla chips (somewhat stale and crumbled on top) with avocado

DINNER: a burger with goat chili, goat white cheddar, and avocado; side salad; a few fries and a few beers; from the Bad Apple Bar and Grill in Lincoln Square.

ORIGIN OF ONE FOOD ITEM: Sassy Cow Skim Milk: Conventional. I bought a half Gal of their conventional milk, but Hyde Park Produce also carries their organic label. It's owned and operated by 2 WI brothers on their grandpa's land, with the creamery and farm close together just north of Madison. Their website explains the location and history of both their creamery and farm, as well as why and how they maintain both an organic and "traditional" herd. (Fun picture of cow looking sassy at the camera!) Basically, it comes down to how they keep the field where each herd grazes. Think of the difference in terms of keeping up your lawn, they say, and whether or not you use herbicides. Though if a heifer stubs her toe or catches cold, the organic girls don't get the antibiotics to make it all better like their cousins would. They have to use rice packs and drink herbal teas. They are forced to be hippies in all areas of life!

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION: One of the things I appreciate most about Lent is that it acknowledges that I just don't want to do things. I'd really rather not abstain from tasty treats, or take time to learn about issues that depress me, like youth violence or prison reform--ahem, the need for prison reform. But Lent says NO. Do that which is good, but is hard. Whether that's taking out or adding something to your life, the effect can be the same. I was struck at how those organic cows get their injuries treated differently. It reminds me sometimes when my headache is bad, or I just can't wake up in the morning, and I say, "just give me the Advil," or "I just want some caffeine." But what if God was my farmer? What if God said, NO. You are an organic human, and so like it or not, you're going a natural. It's for your integrity and other people out there support this decision. Then I'd proceed to whine and say, but it hurts! And God still says No to drugs (how's that for a T-shirt slogan?) but in fact, is saying yes to my wholeness. To my organic bodily, sassy self.
Now I'm not arguing for or against us all using some Tylenol or Dayquill certainly not. And did I not buy the conventional milk?  It's hard to say yes to organic all the time. I think my conventional milk was about half the price. Just give me the cheap stuff.

But my take away is this: Lent encourages us to say Yes to what is good in one another and for one another. And God helps us figure out what those things are. Lent offers a smattering of all sorts of "nos" and "yeses" to choose from. It draws my attention to what I'd rather seek, and what God would have me seek. So I imagine I'm going to many times remain my sassy self, and struggle against that which is probably for my good. Against what is hard. So thanks be to God. And whether you're a conventional or organic sassy cow today, God is still our herder.