A cook’s sensibility extends beyond food to people and space, so in addition to providing food, a cook might provide others the opportunity to nourish themselves.

At a meditation retreat, I was passing through the buffet line for breakfast, and at the end of the serving table I came to a large bowl of fresh fruit. This is rather common at group gathering, because it is a convenient way to offer fruit. Nothing except washing the fruit and putting it in a bowl is required. Then people have the opportunity to choose just exactly which fruit they desire.

Peels were piled on the table next to the fruit bowl, and although I could see an occasional apple core or pear stem and a few orange and tangerine peels, mostly what I noticed was a vast mound of banana peels. Most breakfasters were banana lovers. Either that, or they found that peeling a banana was about all the effort they cared to make.

“An orange would be nice, but then I’d have to peel it.” An apple would be great, but then I’d have to bite and chew it — it would be better sliced.” Lots of bananas get eaten this way. We get to find out whether or not we are worth the effort it takes to open, peel, and cut a piece of fruit…..

Sometimes we are not sure: “Am I really worth sliced fruit today?” A friend says her mother used to tease her when she did something for herself: “My, aren’t we feeling good about ourselves today?” Well I say, “What a fine thing to do! — for yourself or for loved ones.”