As a blue blooded goan, I am an ardent lover of bread much to the distaste of the rest of my country where roti or chappati or dosai or poha or dhokla are the breakfast delicacies… I ate pao with butter and cha! ( bread butter and tea) As every morning begins with the familiar sound of the Poder (baker) honking on his bicycle, he stops at every gate and fills the bag hung at the door, that honk would be my alarm all through my school especially during exam season. While the bread was pipping hot, and then we would devour it for a breakfast f combination with anything cheese, butter , jam or local vegetable mix (bhaji) which maybe with yummy gravy ( medical college hostel special).
The bread saga did not end just yet, my working mother packed a quick snack for school break of bread with either egg salad or sausage or even cheese (I love cheese!). However in college got replaced by a quick sandwich or samosa! Following lunch and the quick siesta at noon ( another goan trait) is the evening tea! or cha( portuguese) which is accompanied by awaiting the arrival of freshly baked bread by the evening poder and as advanced as we may call ourselves, we still perk up and rush to the gate on hearing that familiar honking (no app can replace that)! This bread is a different form of shape and size and name — katro pao, poi or kankon and the softened pao on dipping in the hot tea, makes for the best evening snack!! Refreshing!!! While missing the Poder and the bread delivery is anothergrave shift in our daily routine andis often witnessed by a random aunty running behind him yelling “rav re !!” ( stop please!!)
While I am grinning typing this with the picture of the poder with a bunch of stray dogs hoping for a bite and every mother at home picking their bread of choice and bargaining for the price!! I was smiling that I miss this same enthusiasm in my heart when I go to receive the bread of life !!!
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world.”
I never saw my mornings brighten up when I devoured the morning pao or snacked on it during my school breaks! Nor did I run after the bread giver when I missed it…. often, more often I ate it cause it was an obligation on sundays and cause I had to! The happiness of having the bread of life when I am starving in faith and prayer never compares to my physical satiety. I need to start to wake up to this bread more than just my exam season or when I need favors. I need this bread at every meal of my life… either as the Eucharist or the Word of the Lord. I want to hope and wish I never miss the provider even once and work harder on myself to earn this daily bread.
Enough said, time to have a bite and say a prayer!
Prayer:
My Lord and my God, You are the food my soul needs, you are the bread of eternal life. I praise you for your unending compassion and love which takes me in your arms every time I seek forgiveness. Remind me oh Lord to seek this food even as a bite sized snack in my daily life of starvation and bless everyone reading this with a meal of wholesome love!!
AMEN.
P.S: for details on bread I eat — https://homegrown.co.in/article/801528/the-wonderful-world-of-goan-bread
