Hemant Mehta, in his blog, Friendly Atheist offers up this dinner grace. Christian that I am, I like it.
Secular Coalition for America president Herb Silverman offers an example of a secular grace that you can use during dinner tonight:
Let us take a moment to think about where the food we are about to enjoy has come from and to acknowledge those who worked to bring us this food. Let us appreciate the earth, the sun, the air, and the water needed to nourish the plants and animals. Let us thank the farmer who cared for the plants and animals and the migrant worker who toiled to harvest the crops. Let us thank the laborer who processed the food, the truck driver who brought the food, and the grocery store workers who displayed it. Finally, let us thank our friends who prepared this meal and have provided us with the opportunity to be together and share each other’s company.
It’s perfect, really, thanking nature and the people who made the meal possible. Only someone so narrow-mindedly religious could find that offensive since a god wasn’t included in the list.
I like it. I might add, as well, thanks for our amazing universe and planet, for science (including evolution) by which we come to appreciate the wonder of life. Having said that, I might, too, in my heart and mind, direct my thanks to the God I believe in. I might even add, “in Jesus Christ we pray.” But I will silently add those thoughts and feelings since I will be sharing Thanksgiving dinner with several all-in-the-family Atheists.
Hermant, thanks for a “perfect” grace.