Sleep. Eat. Drink.

One of my coworkers was complaining of a headache, and I saw that she did not have her usual water bottle at her cash register. I drink a lot of water, and I just think the world would be a better place if we all did that. It is a scientific fact, and not just a Susie thing, that being dehydrated can bring on a headache. So I said maybe drinking some water would help and she gave me a look and I said, "Should I stop mothering you now?" She broke out in a big smile and said, "Yeah. That would be good." I am a nurturing person, which can be okay, but when it crosses the line into mothering it is not a healthy thing.

Once upon a time back in Old Testament Bible times, there was a man named Elijah who wanted to be a force for good in the world. He was overwhelmed and discouraged and pretty much in despair. He was sitting under a juniper tree bemoaning his own life and the condition of the world in general. He was a prophet, who spent his days trying to get people to worship who he believed to be the One True God. Yet lots of people were worshipping this god named Baal, and to make matters even worse he had antagonized Jezebel to the point where she threatened to kill him. So he had fled. As he sat under the tree, he thought maybe it would be good for God to just kill him and put him out of his misery.

I guess he wore himself out, because he fell asleep. Sleep. We all need it, and it has wonderful restorative powers. While he was sleeping, an angel came by and left a cake on a hot rock for him. Eat. And a jar of water. Drink. When he awoke, he realized he was hungry, so he ate the cake and drank the water. Feeling much better already.

He longed to hear God's voice. What he needed was reassurance that life was still good, that all was not lost. He wished that the Power of the Universe would speak to him. There was a mighty wind that shook the branches on the trees. But that was not God. Then the earth quaked. Yet that was not God either. Then there was a fire. God wasn't there either.

Then he heard it. The still, small voice that told him there were still 7,000 people in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal or kissed him with their mouths. All was not lost. Life was still good. It was the voice of Elijah's God, the inner compass, the still, small voice. Nothing had changed in the world since Elijah fell sleep. It was Elijah who had changed.

Elijah was all ready to go, as good as new or even better. He had slept, and had a good meal, and, yes, some water. These simple things brought him to a place where he could once again find his center. Elijah and you and me all have our times of discouragement, when we feel overwhelmed, and even to the point of despair. What can bring us back? It must be some huge spectacle, some outstanding miracle of nature, right? Like a hurricane. Or an earthquake. Or a fire.

Isn't it funny how simple life is sometimes? Often all we need are the basics. A restful night's sleep. Nourishing food. A drink of water. (You notice how I keep bringing up the water, right?) And then we are in a place where we hear that still, small voice inside each of us that lifts us up and keeps us going. And growing. Pretty simple when you think about it.

Sleep. Eat. Drink.

Susan

The story of Elijah can be found in the first book of Kings, chapter 19.

Hungry

The bulletin board in our break room has flyers that tell us we might be eligible for the earned income credit, food stamps or energy assistance from the local utility company. There is a toll-free number employees can call if they need help in determining what kind of assistance they might be eligible for, or help in navigating the system. There is a real need for this, because starting employees earn $8 an hour, which is the California minimum wage. Many of my co-workers have two jobs, some of them three.

Overall, the company has 150,000 employees,  over 80% of which are part-time with no benefits. One of my colleagues is a full-time employee, meaning she works 30 hours each week, and can be a part of a pretty good health care plan. Her take home pay is around $40 a week. The rest of it is payroll deducted to cover the cost of health insurance for herself, her husband and two children.

Our CEO earned $19 million last year. I have never met her, but I see her name and signature on a letter that appears near our time clock about four times a year, announcing an upcoming weekend where employees can get a 20% discount on purchases instead of the usual 10%.

I did some calculations, and if she works 40 hours a week, she earns $9,000 an hour. If she works a 60 hour week like many high level executives do, she earns $6,000 an hour. If she is a complete workaholic at 80 hours a week, she earns $4,500 an hour. I am not a math major, but there is a huge disparity between $8 an hour and $4,500 an hour.

I am thankful to have a job in this economy. I am a good employee and take pride in the kind of job I do. And make no mistake, I take full responsibility for the choices I have made throughout my lifetime that have brought me to this place. One of the reasons I am in college is so that I can better myself. I know that we need rich people, because they stimulate the economy in ways that people of lesser means cannot.  I don't lie awake at night worrying about money, because as I shared with you here, I know that I will be fine. But sometimes I do lie awake and think about this huge gulf between the rich and the poor in America. I think about the difference between $8 and $4,500, and it boggles my mind.

Susan

"Hunger Strike" written by Chris Cornell

Let Them Eat Cake

One of the great things about being an American is that we are a mixture of many nationalities and religions. I celebrate Easter and Christmas without being Christian. I celebrate St. Patrick's Day without being Irish. Tomorrow I will celebrate Cinco de Mayo without being Mexican. Cinco de Mayo (the fifth of May) is a holiday which commemorates the Battle of Puebla. For those of us who live in southern California, it is big. We drink cervezas and margaritas, and eat delicious Mexican food.  Even before I became a vegetarian, when in a Mexican restaurant, I would often order refried beans, rice and tortillas for a meal. The rice and beans are usually side dishes for entrees like enchiladas or chile rellano, but I think the beans and rice are the very best part. They are nutritious. Combined they also form a complete protein, important when meat is not a part of the diet.

One of the great things about being an American is that we have freedom of speech. The vast majority of people in the world do not enjoy this privilege, of saying whatever we want. Sean Hannity, an American media personality, recently commented that no one needs to go to bed hungry if they have some beans and rice. It is his right as an American to voice his opinion.

One of the great things about being an American is that we have a free market. That means that theoretically it is possible for any little child to grow up to amass a net worth of $35 million, which happens to be what Mr. Hannity's net worth is thought to be. It is his right to be wealthy, and anyone who is able to prosper financially in an honest way has my blessing. Go for it. There is nothing wrong with that.

One of the great things about being an American is that we have a lot of choices when it comes to food. Not long ago I heard a comment that many poor Americans are fat so obviously they aren't hungry. It is entirely possible to be overweight or even obese and be malnourished. That's because processed foods and fast foods are cheap and readily available. If money is tight, getting the $1 item at a fast food restaurant is actually cheaper than finding a supermarket with good deals on fruits and vegetables. Not that you can't be poor and still have a good diet, but it is challenge. If you're a child, you depend on what your parents provide for your meals. So while it is true that kids in our country don't have the bloated stomachs of children in third world countries who are literally dying of starvation, the problem of both kids and adults not having enough of the right kinds of food to not just survive, but thrive, is very real. To be fair, Mr. Hannity did say later on that rice and beans were not enough; fruits and vegetables need to be included as well.

One of the great things about being an American is that we are a land of plenty. Many of us thrive. The sad thing is, some of us just survive.

Susan