When I first started working with the ELCA World Hunger program, I couldn’t eat when I was at work. Not because I didn’t have food, or because I wasn’t hungry. After reading, thinking and talking about world hunger at work, I just felt terrible that I had food in the refrigerator, and so many others did not. Granted, I was not working full time here, so for me it was merely a once-a-week reminder of what an empty stomach felt like. But really, when was the last time you were actually hungry? For many of us, the clock dictates when we eat rather than our stomachs. And the array of food choices we have are amazing. It’s not a question of IF, but WHAT we will eat.
As a mother, I cannot fathom the agony of mothers who are unable to feed their children. Not just food they enjoy, but anything substantial and nutritious. My children’s worst food problems are that they don’t like what I’ve cooked!
For the record, I have overcome my inability to eat on the days I am at work. I do feel thankful each time I reach for my lunch though, and motivated to work on behalf of those who don’t have that luxury. With that, I am off to warm up my butternut squash soup from last night’s dinner. In case you’re wondering, my kids did not like it, but my husband and I enjoyed it throughly.
Erin Cummisford
