04/25/2018 EAT FRESH
Mark 2: 23 Another time, on a Sabbath day as JESUS and HIS disciples were walking through the fields, the disciples were breaking off heads of wheat and eating the grain. Some of the Jewish religious leaders said to JESUS, “They shouldn’t be doing that! It’s against our law to work by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.” [Living Bible Translation]
Ruth 2:2-9 One day Ruth said to Naomi, “Perhaps I can go out into the fields of some kind man to glean the free grain behind his reapers.”… Boaz arrived from the city while she was there. After exchanging greetings with the reapers he said to his foreman, “Hey, who’s that girl over there?” And the foreman replied, “It’s that girl from the land of Moab who came back with Naomi. She asked me this morning if she could pick up the grains dropped by the reapers, and she has been at it ever since except for a few minutes’ rest over there in the shade." Boaz went over and talked to her. “Listen, my child,” he said to her. “Stay right here with us to glean; don’t think of going to any other fields. Stay right behind my women workers; I have warned the young men not to bother you; when you are thirsty, go and help yourself to the water.” [Living Bible Translation]
Summary
Gleaning was quite common during Biblical times. After a field had been harvested, others were allowed to collect the leftover crops to eat. Today, some might considered it part of the Biblical “welfare system” or “General Assistance” system. It was a way to provide for those who could not provide for themselves or to help someone “make ends meet.” Ruth and Naomi were both widowed and poor. Their husbands were dead and Naomi had just returned to Bethlehem. But, Ruth was a Moabite. In other words, she wasn’t from Bethlehem, she probably didn’t look or dress like “everyone else,” and she wasn’t even Jewish! She was “a foreigner.” Like the foreman, many people probably didn’t even know her name or care to know it. Ruth was just “that girl from Moab who came back with Naomi.”
However, Boaz’ attitude toward both Ruth and Naomi was gracious, polite, supportive and protective. Boaz referred to Ruth as “my child,” letting her know that “she was family.” He made sure Ruth was protected and tried to make “her situation” as comfortable as possible. Boaz went the “extra mile.” The scriptures state that at lunchtime, Boaz invited Ruth to come eat with him, sharing what he had with her (Verse 14). He not only gave her food, he gave her more than she could eat. Later when she returned to work, Boaz told his men to let Ruth glean right beside them and told them to snap off a few heads of barley and drop them on purpose so Ruth would be assured of having enough for herself and Naomi (Verse 18). In other words, Boaz not only allowed Ruth to eat fresh food but wanted to try to give Naomi and Ruth a fresh start too.
JESUS and the disciples’ gleaning experience was in stark contrast to Ruth’s. The disciples were also eating fresh in a field. They were Jewish, just like the religious leaders they encountered. JESUS was preaching to large crowds and teaching, so HE was no stranger. Although there was no evidence that the religious leaders even owned the field, there was no generosity, no politeness, nor concern nor love. They just wanted JESUS and HIS disciples to disappear.
Eating Fresh
There was a time when almost every house in a neighborhood had a garden. People who grew up on farms and who later moved to cities, wanted to have “fresh” greens, “good tasting” tomatoes, “ripe” apples or peaches, so they just planted a little of their own in a small garden in a back yard. If they didn’t plant their own garden, there was a local place where they could get “fresh” produce—a local market that had the inside track to a local farmer or to some other “fresh” source. Eating fresh was pretty common in past times.
Today, foods are shipped from all over the world. Some supermarkets even have signs identifying the location where the food was grown. Some stores do not. Sometimes the packaging will identify whether food is “home grown” or not. Some fruits are shipped from far location with wax on them so the fruit will “appear” fresh. Sometimes people get so used to the glossiness of the fruit, they confuse shininess with freshness, not realizing the fruit is not fresh. Sometimes fruit has been frozen for months in an attempt to slow down their deterioration. Sometimes fruits and vegetables are sprayed to prevent outside mold. Sometimes chemicals and synthetic pesticides are sprayed on a crop or field to kill weeds and insects by non-organic farmers and as the fruit or crop grows some of the residues of these chemicals are absorbed into the fruit and vegetable skin. Although fresh organically grown fruit, right off a tree, may not be “as pretty,” they may be better for you.
Sometimes there is a date stamp on food. Sometimes the stamp will be “sell by,” indicating the date the store should stop advertising and marketing the product. Sometimes there is a “used by” date on the product, can or package. Sometimes there is a “best used by” date on a product or package. When shopping, it pays to look at the stamps, if there is one on the product. For example, juice, milk, eggs, can goods, frozen goods, bread and other foods often bear stamps.
It pays to read carefully and to buy fresh, whenever possible.
Most dietitians agree that eating fresh whole fruits and vegetables is healthier than eating processed foods (e.g. canned foods, artificially flavored foods, or foods that contain chemicals or preservatives.) Whole foods generally contain more nutrients, which, in turn, helps our immune systems and helps us fight disease.
Numerous studies have linked eating fresh fruits and vegetables with lower risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease and reduced risks for Type 2 diabetes. For example, see: “The data are in: Eat right, reduce your risk of diabetes, Robert H Shmerling, MD, Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publications, January 5, 2017, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-data-are-in-eat-right-avoid-diabetes-2017010510936. Why not eat fresh and try to have the best health possible for yourself or your family!
A great source of fresh fruits and vegetables is your local farmer’s market—food grown in your own state. If you haven’t visited a farmer’s market, why not give it a try. Support your local economy and your own health! To find out what is season in your region go to:
https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/