Should We Measure Our Food?

Today we'll talk about the need to keep up your strength if you're going to consistently put in a good day's work. The subject arose when a rough day at work intersected with the next entry in the Rule of St. Benedict, which my edition labels "The Measure of Food." Let's start with that rough day.

I took a good stiff extended morning walk as part my regular exercise the other day. This time, rather than perking me up, it sucked out more than its fair share of energy. After over a week of high heat and humidity, that morning brought by far the highest humidity, with the highest dew point. The air was thick, so much so that breathing was labored. So that walk was particularly challenging and especially wearing.

Nevertheless, I started work on time and the day flowed reasonably well after an unsteady start. Not that I had much of a choice. My small business presented - as usual - a list of tasks that needed full attention and execution. With no employees to rely on, what choice did I have? 

It was the sort of day that causes me to chuckle when I hear folks who are convinced that if only they could "work for themselves," their lives would be so much easier. They wouldn't have to answer to that overweening boss, or deal with that dunderhead colleague that constantly gets on their nerves. They could "do their own thing" if they worked for themselves, follow their own dream instead of someone else's. Sure they'd have some stress; but self-imposed stress is oh-so much easier to bear than stress heaped on them by that job they can't stand.

I've heard many variations on that theme. Most simply make me smile. If I could, I'd invite them to go on that walk last week and spend the rest of the day pounding away even as Brother Ass (as St. Francis of Assissi referred to his body) stood firm in his tracks refusing to move. When Brother Ass sets himself hard and square like that, it takes a combination of coaxing and brute force to get him to move along.

Whether you own a business or are an employee, keeping up your strength will help you bear the inevitable challenges we all face on a daily basis. Along with exercise, you can keep up your strength through thick and thin is to eat good food in appropriate quantities.

St. Benedict would agree. Here's what he has to say about the Measure of Food a monk should have:

"...every table should have two cooked dishes, on account of individual infirmities, so that he who perchance cannot eat of the one, may make his meal of the other...if any fruit or young vegetable are available, let a third be added. Let a good pound weight of bread suffice for the day, whether there be one meal only, or both dinner and supper...But if their work chance to be heavier, the abbot shall have the choice and power, should it be expedient, to increase this allowance. Above all things, however, gluttony must be avoided..."

Typical of St. Benedict, his advice is carefully thought out and considerate of the fact that people are different. 

We Catholic men at work need to take the same approach as St. Benedict. Knowing how to eat to keep up your strength doesn't require a degree in nutrition and it isn't rocket science. But it may require some time spent reading and researching about food and nutrition.

Do it if you're not nutritionally dialed in. Cut out the bad stuff, especially junk food, most especially sugary stuff (like the stuff the office "snack" machine typically offers). And if you're in the habit of exercising, you should know that bad eating habits will pull the rug out from under your desire for greater strength and endurance. 

If we want to attend to the duties of our state of life diligently and persistently, bad food is our enemy.

That applies to what we drink as well. More on that next time...