The Sacred Life of Bread

The pursuit of bread, from the time a single grain is planted in the soil to the moment a baked loaf is broken and consumed, satisfies longings not only physical but spiritual. Nearly all the world's religions count bread-related proverbs and prayers among their sacred scriptures. In Christian tradition, bread is often referred to as life itself, thanks to its ability to meet the most basic need of all that live: the need for food. The life of bread is as ordinary as it is sacred. It offers a path toward understanding the inner workings of the world, ourselves, and the relationship between the two. In these pages Meghan Murphy-Gill explores the life cycle of bread, from the planting of grains to harvesting and milling into flour to baking and breaking loaves. And even as she tells stories from growers, millers, bakers, and eaters, she reflects on the mysteries into which each stage of bread's life offers us a glimpse. The making and breaking of bread are spiritual practices that reveal deep truths as well as pathways toward meaningful relationships with ourselves, our communities, and our environment.