I am raising a five-year-old boy. He is a U.S. citizen from South Korean and Ashkenazi decent. He knows who he is becoming and he seems to like it. I don’t want to stifle where he needs to go. Life is gifting me with guiding a soul into his world. What a blessing!

 

I absolutely must practice fairness in everything I do. And The Sacred Chow grows… He is in nursery school and on his way to kindergarten. His freedom is so beautiful. I yearn to shape it but I can only guide it. He will find his way. Truly, it is not easy to find freedom when life is “so shackled” by centuries-old beheadings, global steaming, hate, extremists, food pollution, illness, obesity, greed, animal cruelty; in two words, hideous disrespect. But how fortunate I am. Against a backdrop of unimaginable poverty and violence juxtaposed with unhealthy wealth, The Sacred Chow grows…

 

A monster, shark or lion may eat me, and volcanoes will erupt; we are fragile, and I say to you, My Son, “Look me in the eyes, I am safety, I will never harm you. I will teach you goodness.” Shake my hand and say, “I will never hit you, Daddy.” And I will say, “I will never hit you. We are building a stable, sustainable life: fairness for you and me, the planet and other beings.”

 

The sun is on fire and lightening may strike; nature is violent, and that is how the vast palate of creation moves; we move in the magic of father and son. In the mix of the madness, we’ll find the fairness.

 

Daddy, how do I tell the difference between the madness and fairness?

 

Speak patience with yourself when you feel unsure. Anytime you feel impatient or mad is a good time to begin this conversation. Speak this to yourself, “Slow down for five more seconds, five more minutes, five more hours, five more days, five more months, and yes, five more years…” And, imagine fairness.

 

The Sacred Chow grows, 100% vegan.

 

Cliff Preefer, Chef and Owner of Sacred Show, and a former Legal Aid Lawyer

 

(Photo by Kevin Lysaght)