Caffe Decaffeinato

Foods are full, simple, and as they are intended to be in Tuscan cooking. Measuring means less and taste means more. That is why I've come to the conclusion that Italians really don't know the meaning of Decaffeinato. I came to that conclusion about 3 am last night. Lunch had concluded with a lovely, what I thought was a decaffinated expresso. Clearly not true at 3 am. After all, coffee was never meant to be striped of its pizzazz. Consider if in our life with God measuring meant less and taste meant more. Savor the rising and falling of emotion in a hymn, allow the time of prayer to take us where God wants to go, skip our to-do list for God and enter instead into a sweetness of simple rest. Don't accept a watered-down or altered version of someone's experience of faith but find the pizazz of our own. Wouldn't that be as God intended in our relationship?

Retracing our steps

In Florence not all the streets appear on the brightly colored maps printed for travelers. We start out in the direction we want go on a street that appears on the map. Then we find ourselves on an unmarked street but still in the general direction we want to go. Sometimes forging ahead leads to the destination. And it almost always leading to meandering before figurimg out where we are. Sometimes we retrace our steps. It's like confession, or call it self reflection if that makes it sound more comfortable to you. Confession is to turn around, turn away from the path you are currently traveling to get back on the path you want. In theological language the path you want, and you want it because God desires that path for you, is the path that leads to God. Retracing our steps to find the streets other Christian travelers have also discovered lead in the way we want to go.

Toscana

Land, people, food and hospitality weave inseparably in Tuscany. To produce, cook, serve, and invest in food are all hard job with long hours and no days off (eecailly March to December). The people on these "industries" are have passions, not jobs. They bring personality, perseverance, intelligent, humor, and commitment to make the world a better place. Today we met butchers including one of the few woman butchers, a woman Veterinarian with cashmere goats, and restaurateurs who are the social centers of their villages. This is Slow Food- local, sustainable, building their communities.