A TRUTHFUL PRAYER BEFORE MEALS

"I am sorry, God, for my intentional and
unintentional participation in the current world
market that has brought this food produced often
through environmentally-dangerous and negative
farming practices, packaged in environmentally-
unfriendly containers and harvested in many cases by
underpaid, abused migrant and alien labor so it can
be brought to my table, a table at which I often
consume food in unnecessary amounts and even waste
it.

"As penance and in hopes of redeeming myself for
participation in this daily tragedy which
contributes to the unequal distribution of the
bounty You do supply, I will strive, with the help
of Your grace, to use the energy created by this
food in my body to serve someone other than myself
and, whenever possible, those in greatest need.

God, please continue through the Holy Spirit to work
with me on my conversion and awareness so that
tomorrow I may buy less and eat less. If I
accomplish this, my prayer of thanksgiving can truly
be one of simple thanks rather than a confession of
my indulgence and the over importance given to me as
a first-world male so obviously demonstrated by the
over abundance of out-of-season, imported,
transported, and over-packaged food on my table.

"May God forgive me for what I am about to do."

(From the ALTERNATIVES FOR SIMPLE LIVING Member/
Volunteer Update, Summer, 2003; originally submitted
by John Sentovich from a friend. Go to
http://www.simpleliving.org/main/InsiderInfo.html to
read the whole issue. Alternatives has been
"equipping people of faith to challenge consumerism,
live justly, and celebrate responsibly" since 1973.
For a free Resource Guide contact 800-821-6153 or
Alternatives@SimpleLiving.org. Or visit
http://www.SimpleLiving.org.