Kass Ferm. Kerala, India. 5 Oct 2025.
I was reading Hebrews 13 today in an adorable cafe in Jew Town, Fort Kochi, India, surrounded by artwork of Jesus Christ, as well as Hindu-inspired art sculptures that might be found in ancient temples and sacred shrines. I was sitting at my laptop, and I looked to my right and saw an image of Jesus reaching out his hand to me. Of course, this inspired me to open the Word, and so I decided on Hebrews 13, which offered up a closing challenge to a life well-lived in Christ. The ancient text whispered truths to me about the unseen kindness we offer to strangers, the suffering we must bear for our imprisoned siblings, and the sacred honor we have with others and with God.
My vegetarian meal from Sri Krishna Cafe in Fort Kochi, India, on 4 October 2025. (79 cents)
One verse that spoke to me loud and clear: "Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have" is a single sentiment, but in the clamor of this world that we live in, it feels like a radical act of resistance. It is a reminder to all of us that our true anchor lies not in any fleeting accumulation of wealth but in the promise of our God: "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you."
The Allure of Enough
Coming from a culture such as America, where the relentless pursuit of profit often eclipses the soul, I felt a call to strive for "more". It is a relentless current that pulls us to work, work, work, and takes time away from spending our waking days caring for family, friends, and the people in our communities who are in need.
My time in India, however, has been a beautifully disruptive counter-narrative to this greedy mentality. Here, there is a different rhythm to life. There is a profound connection between work, family, and community care that is so often hard to find in US cities. I have witnessed the stunning generosity of an employer who felt it was his duty to provide housing and food for all of his staff members, which is an example of the holistic support system that is worlds away from the hyper-individualism I have witnessed in the West. There is a collective heartbeat of shared wealth where the whole family works together and the resources flow from a common well.
Church in Kochi
In the simplicity of the Indian economy, I have found a profound truth: I need so little to be content.
Just yesterday in Fort Kochi, every expence I tracked felt like a lesson in gratitude: Breakfast of idlis with coconut chutney (16 Rs), coffee in a gorgeous, art filled cage (190 Rs, a small luxury for focus and quiet study), dinner takeaway of savory chicken liver roast (50 Rs, for a powerhouse of nutrition and flavor), a fresh cabbage from a local vegetable fruit vendor (16 rupees), and a satisfying unlimited rice meal at a beloved local spot called Sri Krishna Cafe (70 Rs for a feast of spiced vegetables and cool buttermilk).
For a roof over my head, I seek only the essentials: a single bed, a fan, and a shower, and I try to keep the cost to less than $ 10 per night. I consider this my literal living expense. I do not have a car, an apartment, or any obligatory payments to make on any sort of owned property in the United States, and so my hotel spending of $ 300 max per month is comparable to my housing cost. These humble elements bring me satisfaction, not suffering —a spirited state that no fancy watch or car could ever deliver. My heart is not fixed on accumulating things; rather, it is fixed on the One who is everything to me, Jesus. I walk with Him; He dissolves my loneliness and is the Truth that guides my steps.
We can say with confidence that "The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?"
Honoring the Body of Christ
Sacrificing to find contentment is also the journey to healing. As many people in my life know, I have wrestled with an eating disorder, and I have learned that the true fight is not against my body but is for my focus. Greed is not just about money, but it is also about the greedy consumption of our own attention, when we fixate on our body's perceived flaws or worldly accomplishments instead of on Him.
The book of Hebrews paints a powerful picture that Jesus "suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood." He bore the ultimate disgrace, and if the Son of God was willing to leave the safety of the camp, then so must we.
Our focus should shift from the fleeting body we inhabit to the Body of Christ, His Church, and the spiritual life He has blessed us with. To honor Him, we must care for the vessel (our bodies) He gave us, not out of vain or anxiety but out of praise.
This is why I am pursuing a Master's in Nutrition, as I want to honor God with the knowledge of how to properly fuel His people. As a scientist and a believer, I see the wisdom in His creation.
Firstly, we should shift away from synthetic and ultra-processed foods that have been altered by machines and factories. True nourishment comes from what is grown on the ground or from animals that feed from it.
There is also something to be said about traditional wisdom with food. I find deep beauty in the traditional diets of cultures like South India, where centuries of wisdom have crafted a rich and healthy diet from local and biodiverse ingredients of guava, coconuts, millet, and fermented foods like idli, which is a light and digestible rice cake that has nourished generations in this part of the world.
We must also honor all of creation. I am grateful for the ethical approach that uses all parts of animals we slaughter for human consumption, such as the nutrient-dense liver and heart of animals like chickens, beef, and lamb, rather than letting these parts go to waste. God wants us to honor the animals He provides us.
A Return to the True Feast
This radical pursuit of contentment, shunning greed to embrace God, is fundamentally about honoring the vessel He has given us. Just as Jesus stepped outside the camp to bear our shame, we must step outside the norm of the modern world's factory-made camp of empty promises and processed foods. I urge everyone to join me in a Godly diet, one that turns our backs on synthetic and fortified foods. True nourishment is found in what is grown on the ground and in the animals that feed from it. Looking to the wisdom of our ancestors, research the traditional diets of your home, and honor the local, biodiverse foods God has provided you in your place of living. The South Indian diet, which I have had the pleasure of experiencing over the past few weeks, with its fermented idlis, fresh coconuts, and rich pulses, offers a perfect example of a resourceful and deeply healthful cuisine. It reminds us that our bodies thrive not on quick fixes or isolated vitamins but on the wholesome and ancient synergy of ingredients that the Creator intended.
What is the overall takeaway from my experience? The lesson whispered in Hebrews 13 in that sun-dappled cafe in Fort Kochi is that greed, for money or power or even a perfect body, is a thief. It steals our focus from the only thing that truly matters. When we shed the burden of constantly striving for more and instead dedicate ourselves to our purpose in Christ, we find we already have everything we could possibly need. We possess the unshakable promise that He will never abandon us, and we are fully equipped to pursue His will with passion and take care of the bodies He gave as an act of praise. Therefore, let us offer through Jesus praise through our work, in our kindness to the people we pass on the street,s and the people we say I love you to on the phone every night before our heads touch the pillow, and in the nourishing choices we make daily. You have a roof, clean water, and clean food. You are Blessed. Go forth, be satisfied, and work hard for His glory, for He is more than enough.
I would love to know in the comments: Which traditional food from your own background inspires you the most in your journey toward a Godly diet?
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