Key Takeaways
1. Unexpected conversion: A journalist's journey to faith through communion
I still can't explain my first communion. It made no sense. I was in tears and physically unbalanced: I felt as if I had just stepped off a curb or been knocked over, painlessly, from behind.
A surprising encounter. Sara Miles, a secular journalist with no religious background, stumbles into a church and experiences an unexpected, powerful connection during communion. This moment catalyzes a profound transformation in her life, challenging her preconceptions about faith and spirituality.
Journey of discovery. As Miles explores her newfound faith, she grapples with questions of belief, community, and purpose. Her journey illustrates how faith can emerge in unexpected places and ways, often defying rational explanation. This conversion experience becomes the foundation for a radical reimagining of what it means to be a Christian in the modern world.
2. The power of food: Connecting people and embodying spiritual truths
Food was a lot of what had grounded me before, shaping my family, my work, my relationships. It had meant a five-gallon plastic bucket full of broken eggs. It had meant a generously offered bowl of rice porridge in the jungle. It had meant the thin blue milk leaking from my own breasts.
Nourishment beyond sustenance. Miles recognizes food as a powerful medium for connection, memory, and spiritual experience. Her background in cooking and her experiences with sharing meals in various contexts inform her understanding of communion and community.
Food as metaphor and reality. Through her work with the food pantry, Miles explores how the act of feeding others can be a tangible expression of love, faith, and inclusion. She draws parallels between the Christian sacrament of communion and the everyday act of sharing food, finding deep spiritual meaning in both.
3. Establishing a food pantry: Challenges and growth in serving the community
I couldn't reconcile the experience with anything I knew or had been told. But neither could I go away: For some inexplicable reason, I wanted that bread again.
A calling takes shape. Inspired by her transformative experience with communion, Miles feels compelled to start a food pantry at her church. This initiative becomes a practical expression of her newfound faith and a way to connect her spiritual life with tangible service to others.
Overcoming obstacles. The process of establishing and running the food pantry presents numerous challenges, from logistical issues to resistance from within the church community. These difficulties force Miles to confront her own assumptions and biases while deepening her commitment to serving others.
4. Embracing diversity: The church as a place for all, including the marginalized
I was going to have to work with the people I liked at St. Gregory's, and the ones who irritated the hell out of me, and Veronica, and a bunch of strangers I hadn't even met yet.
Radical inclusivity. Miles's vision of church emphasizes welcoming all people, especially those often marginalized or excluded from traditional religious spaces. This approach challenges both her own comfort and the established norms of the church community.
Learning from the margins. Through her interactions with diverse individuals at the food pantry, Miles gains new insights into faith, community, and human dignity. She discovers that those often considered "outsiders" have much to teach about the true nature of Christianity and service.
5. Redefining Christianity: Moving beyond dogma to active love and service
The message of Jesus is the only sure cure for religion.
Faith in action. Miles develops a understanding of Christianity that prioritizes practical acts of love and service over rigid doctrines or rituals. This perspective challenges traditional notions of what it means to be a Christian and calls for a more engaged, compassionate faith.
Challenging the status quo. By emphasizing active service and radical inclusivity, Miles confronts both her own preconceptions and the established norms of organized religion. Her approach invites a reimagining of Christianity that is more aligned with Jesus's teachings and example.
6. Confronting personal biases: Learning from those we serve
I was learning about more than politics or religion. I was learning something about God: You can't hope to see God without opening yourself to all God's creation.
Growth through discomfort. Miles's work with the food pantry forces her to confront her own prejudices and assumptions about people different from herself. This process of self-reflection and growth becomes an integral part of her spiritual journey.
Unexpected teachers. Through interactions with diverse individuals at the food pantry, Miles gains new insights into faith, humanity, and her own limitations. She discovers that those she initially sought to serve often become her greatest teachers, challenging her to expand her understanding of God and community.
7. The struggle for unity: Balancing tradition and radical inclusion in the church
Unity is a gospel imperative to just the extent that we find it hard.
Navigating conflict. Miles's efforts to expand the food pantry's reach and integrate it more fully into church life meet resistance from some members of the congregation. This conflict highlights the tension between maintaining traditional church practices and embracing a more radical, inclusive vision of faith.
Finding common ground. The struggle to balance different perspectives within the church community forces Miles to confront the challenges of unity in diversity. She learns that true Christian community often requires difficult conversations, compromise, and a willingness to embrace discomfort for the sake of a larger vision.
8. Sacraments reimagined: Finding holy moments in everyday acts of kindness
I began to notice our people spontaneously engaging in sacramental acts, finding their own ways to express the desires and purposes that had been codified so long ago by the church.
Expanding sacred space. Miles recognizes that sacramental moments can occur outside of traditional church settings, particularly in the context of serving others at the food pantry. This perspective broadens the understanding of what constitutes a sacred act or space.
Everyday holiness. Through her work at the food pantry, Miles discovers that seemingly ordinary actions—sharing a meal, offering a kind word, or providing groceries—can become profound expressions of God's love and presence. This realization invites a more expansive view of spiritual practice and divine encounter.
9. The tension between personal faith and organized religion
I didn't think God needed humans to practice religion at all: God didn't need to be appeased by sacrifices or offerings or perfectly memorized quotations from the Bible spoken in the right order. God was not manageable.
Beyond institutionalization. Miles grapples with the disconnect between her personal spiritual experiences and the structures of organized religion. She questions the necessity of many traditional religious practices while seeking to maintain a meaningful connection to faith community.
Navigating contradictions. As she deepens her involvement with the church, Miles must reconcile her critique of religious institutions with her desire for community and shared spiritual practice. This tension leads her to explore new ways of expressing faith that honor both personal experience and collective tradition.
10. Expanding the vision: From feeding bodies to nourishing souls
I had to believe that the hurt places in her, and my inadequacies, were not defining who she could become. That our lives were not about avoiding pain at all costs but about going through it, together, and finding gratitude for the experience.
Holistic ministry. Miles's work with the food pantry evolves from simply providing physical nourishment to addressing deeper spiritual and emotional needs. She recognizes the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being in the lives of those she serves.
Transformative community. Through the food pantry, Miles creates a space where people can experience healing, belonging, and personal growth. This expanded vision of ministry challenges traditional boundaries between sacred and secular, inviting a more integrated approach to faith and service.
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FAQ
What's Take This Bread about?
- Personal Journey of Faith : Take This Bread is a memoir by Sara Miles that details her unexpected conversion to Christianity at the age of forty-six, focusing on her journey from a secular life to a deep engagement with faith.
- Food and Community : The book emphasizes the connection between food, community, and spirituality, highlighting how sharing food can create a sense of belonging and serve as a form of communion.
- Radical Inclusivity : Miles advocates for a radically inclusive faith that welcomes everyone to the table, regardless of their background or circumstances, weaving this theme throughout her experiences and reflections on Christianity.
Why should I read Take This Bread?
- Engaging Storytelling : Sara Miles is a skilled storyteller, and her memoir is filled with vivid anecdotes and reflections that resonate with readers, making the book compelling and relatable.
- Exploration of Faith : The book offers a unique perspective on Christianity, challenging conventional views and exploring what it means to be a believer in a contemporary context.
- Social Justice Focus : Take This Bread emphasizes the importance of social justice and community service, particularly through the lens of feeding the hungry, inspiring readers to take action in their own communities.
What are the key takeaways of Take This Bread?
- Faith is a Journey : Miles illustrates that faith is not a one-time event but a continuous journey filled with questions, doubts, and growth.
- Importance of Community : The book highlights the significance of community in spiritual life, emphasizing that being a Christian involves serving and loving others.
- Radical Hospitality : A central theme is the idea of radical hospitality, where everyone is welcomed to the table without judgment, reflecting Jesus's teachings.
What are the best quotes from Take This Bread and what do they mean?
- “Taste and see.” : This phrase suggests that experiencing faith is about engaging with it physically and emotionally, inviting readers to explore their own spirituality through action and experience.
- “Jesus welcomes everyone to his table.” : This quote emphasizes the radical inclusivity of Miles's faith, reinforcing the idea that no one is excluded from God's love.
- “Feed my sheep.” : This directive from Jesus serves as a call to action for Miles, reflecting her commitment to social justice and the importance of serving others as an expression of faith.
How does Sara Miles describe her conversion experience in Take This Bread?
- Unexpected Moment : Miles describes her conversion as a surprising and transformative experience that occurred during her first communion.
- Physical and Emotional : The experience was both physical and emotional, as she felt the bread and wine were not just symbols but actual nourishment for her soul.
- Journey of Questions : Following her conversion, Miles faced many questions and doubts about her faith, emphasizing that conversion is a continuous process of exploration and growth.
What role does food play in Take This Bread?
- Symbol of Communion : Food serves as a powerful symbol of communion, representing both spiritual nourishment and community connection.
- Foundation of the Food Pantry : The establishment of the food pantry illustrates how sharing food can create a sense of belonging and serve as a form of ministry.
- Connection to Faith : Miles connects her understanding of food to her faith, suggesting that just as Jesus fed the hungry, Christians are called to do the same.
How does Take This Bread address social justice?
- Feeding the Hungry : The book is a call to action for Christians to engage in social justice by feeding the hungry and serving those in need.
- Radical Inclusivity : Miles advocates for a faith that is radically inclusive, challenging readers to welcome everyone to the table, regardless of their background.
- Personal Responsibility : Miles encourages readers to take personal responsibility for addressing hunger and poverty in their communities, illustrating that faith is about action and service.
What challenges does Sara Miles face in Take This Bread?
- Resistance from the Church : Miles encounters resistance from church members when proposing the food pantry, reflecting the tension between traditional practices and radical action.
- Personal Doubts : Throughout her journey, Miles grapples with personal doubts and fears about her faith and the implications of her conversion.
- Navigating Relationships : Miles navigates complex relationships with her family, friends, and church community as she embraces her new faith.
How does Take This Bread redefine the concept of church?
- Community-Centered Approach : Miles redefines church as a community-centered space where everyone is welcome, focusing on serving others rather than maintaining traditional rituals.
- Active Participation : The book advocates for active participation in faith, where members are encouraged to engage in service and outreach.
- Integration of Food and Faith : Miles integrates food into the concept of church, suggesting that sharing meals is a fundamental aspect of spiritual life.
What does Sara Miles learn about herself through her experiences in Take This Bread?
- Embracing Vulnerability : Miles learns to embrace her vulnerability and the complexities of her identity as she navigates her faith journey.
- Connection to Others : Through her work with the food pantry, Miles discovers the deep connections she shares with others, reinforcing the idea that community and service are integral to her faith.
- Transformation Through Service : Miles finds that her experiences of serving others transform her understanding of faith and spirituality.
How does Take This Bread explore the concept of radical hospitality?
- Welcoming All : Miles emphasizes the importance of welcoming everyone to the pantry, regardless of their background or circumstances.
- Breaking Down Barriers : The book illustrates how the pantry serves as a space where social barriers are broken down, allowing for genuine connection among people from different walks of life.
- Transformative Encounters : Through her experiences at the pantry, Miles shows how acts of hospitality can transform both the giver and the receiver.
What does Take This Bread say about the relationship between faith and action?
- Faith as Practice : Miles argues that faith is best expressed through action, particularly in serving others.
- Living the Gospel : The book emphasizes that living out the teachings of Jesus requires active engagement with the world.
- Community Impact : Miles illustrates how faith in action can create meaningful change within communities, making a difference in the lives of others.
Take This Bread is a memoir by Sara Miles, an atheist lesbian who unexpectedly converts to Christianity. The book recounts her spiritual journey and the founding of a food pantry at her church in San Francisco. Readers appreciate Miles' honest writing, passion for service, and focus on radical inclusivity. Some find her theology challenging, while others are inspired by her emphasis on communion and feeding others. Critics note repetitive passages and occasional judgmental tone. Overall, the book provokes thought on faith, community, and social justice.
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