Author: Patrick Rhone

On the subject of food, my most recent food obsession is the humble Jambon Beurre — the unofficial national sandwich of France (more than three million jambon-beurre sandwiches are sold in France each day).

So simple. Only three ingredients. But, in discussing this with my Dad today another side thought occurred to me… Because of its simplicity the quality of each ingredient matters that much more. And, I believe this to be a general rule of thumb. The simpler the dish, the more important the quality of the ingredients — the mediocre simply has no where to hide!

You can use canned peas in a casserole and folks will likely never notice. Use them for mushy peas and they’ll likely be terrible.

So, with the jambon beurre I’m careful to use good ham (usually a lightly smoked prosciutto actually), a generous slather of Président butter and a fresh baguette.

I’ve tried the cheap quality alternatives to all three and, well, let’s just say it is not why I keep making them.

This idea came up in conversation with my dad this morning (credit mostly to him):

If you use a microwave until it dies, no problem. You can buy a new one.

You can drive a car until the wheels are practically falling off. Then replace it with a new one.

You only have one body. It can’t be replaced.

Just like the car or the microwave, how well you maintain them and carefully you use them will have an effect on how long they last.

But your body, once it’s done, it’s done.

So, it’s even more important to use and maintain it as well as you can, for as long as you can. Because it’s irreplaceable.

So, put the best fuel (food) in it you can. Make sure that fuel is clean and high-quality (organic, sustainable, balanced, chemical free, ingredients you can trust, etc.). Keep your regularly scheduled maintenance visits (doctors, dentist, etc.). Run it regularly at both cruising and highway speeds (regular walking and exercise). Give it regular washings and keep it looking good (clean cars run better and last longer, so do bodies). These things may cost you more, but that’s because they are better and better for you.

I like this way of thinking about it and making choices for what I do and consume based on this line of thought.

Pairs well with a conversation I had with a friend many years ago, explaining why the added expense often kept me from shopping at the wonderful natural food co-op that’s just a block and a half away as often as I should. He turned to me and said, “Patrick, it’s an investment in your health”.

All these years later, these words ring in my head whoever I shop there.

My faith journey has been, well, complicated. But a large and very influential part of that journey was as a Catholic. I converted from Methodist around age 12 and, though I’ve long journeyed away from the practice of faith, my true spiritual heart was forged there.

While I never felt any particular feelings towards any of the other Popes of my lifetime, Pope Francis was the outlier. Though I did not know him personally, I felt a particular respect and admiration for him.

Reports of all who have met and known him indicate he was a truly pious and humble man who stayed steadfast to his Jesuit practice of service to the poor. Mixed reports early in his tenure of him sneaking out of the Vatican at night to feed the poor had more a ring of truth than some actual verifiable actions of any previous Pope. One would hear such a story and not really question whether it was something he would do if he could.

I even have one direct loose connection to him — I did the graphic design for a report on The Overlooked Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad that was presented to him personally and he received many briefings on. The intended use was as a possible blueprint for modern peace between Abrahamic religions. An effort that is well expressed in his Fratelli tutti encyclical.

All of this is to say that the loss of this Pope weights heavily more than others, and I pray for those who must pick the one to fill his humble shoes.

Rest in peace, Francis.