Back home in London, after travelling through five states for a book tour in the US, I stand in the kitchen and gaze through the window, watching pedestrians wrap arms around waists. Attempting to harness warmth that a brisk wind violates, their boots and wool coats reveal any hope of a lingering autumn as futile.

Staring at strangers out the window as wine sauce reduces on the stove is required mental work for making sense of what seems a senseless election year of sensory overload.

The whir of the mixer, the ting of the timer, chocolate melting in the oven, the aroma of beef stew simmering in the oven—it all seems like a holy union, as if the act of cooking is saving me from wintering somehow.

Join me at Grace Table today as I share some paragraphs about the practice of ruminating from Chapter 11 — L’Chaim! or To Life! The hosts are giving away three copies of Rhythms of Rest to individuals who answer the question I pose. See you at the table for the rest of the story!