Christmas Memories from Aaron

December 17, 1992

Aaron: In past years, when talking about recollections of that lifetime in which I knew the one known as Jesus, I have focused on one or another special quality of that being. Today, I prefer to simply share special memories.

He usually did not eat meat. It was not a strictly maintained doctrine of vegetarianism; he preferred not to eat meat, but took that which he was given. Knowing his preference, very few served him meat. One day I was with him in a group of about ten people. We had been walking all day in rain and were wet, tired and hungry. We'd had a bit of warmed grain in the morning, and that was all. We came to a place where it seemed that we might rest. There was a cave, of sorts, to provide adequate shelter, but we had no food with us. A young boy appeared, of perhaps eleven years and we spoke to him, asking "Do you know where we can find food?" And the boy said, proudly, "I'll get you food." He was back in about an hour, with his arms full of small animals that he'd just killed.

Now, some of us ate meat more readily than others, but we all knew his preference not to eat of this. This child felt so proud, for having provided. I remember how lovingly he knelt down and received that gift, asked us to clean and cook it, and invited the boy to sit and eat with us. There was such generosity of spirit. As we were cooking the food, a family came by. They had bread with them, and he invited them also to stay and eat with us. They had some vegetables, so we had a very full meal.

He spoke very movingly before we began to eat. He spoke of the life that had been in the potatoes and carrots, the life that had been in the wheat, the life that had been in the animals. He asked us to be aware that we were a part of that life and not separate from it. He reminded us that the human cannot exist without nourishment, and that it must draw that nourishment from other life. He spoke of the importance of being aware of the gift of that life, from whatever source it came, and asked that we consecrate that gift as we took it into our bodies. He suggested that we remember that nothing can live forever. As we bring it into ourselves with gratitude and loving awareness , it nourishes us so we may move out and serve others, who serve still others. Thus, we give eternal life to that gift of life that was given us, because our kindness lives on and spreads through the universe.

Just a small memory. Attach what meaning you wish to it.