What is it about humans that makes us so obsessive over food? People devote their lives to food. Chefs go to school and dream one day of gaining Micheline Stars for their work; magazines for only food and wines; TV shows like Top Chef and Hell's Kitchen; we even have an entire channel dedicated to food! What it is about food that makes us to excited?
In his book, Sacraments of Life, Life of Sacraments, Alexander Boff talks about how as people of faith (and even those not) turn simple, everyday things into sacraments which hold meaning for us. They don't necessarily mean the same thing to everyone, but they hold signifigance. They remind us of something. Like the Eucharist in church. Some people treat the Eucharist as an "upper-room" kind of sacrament, quite, solemn, and in rememberance of a funeral. Others, choose to view it as a celebration, like the loaves and fishes story, as a celebration of the risen Christ and the miracles he can do. Either way, its something that brings about memory. And these memories are what are important to us. They are the things we hold on to.
When I think about being at home I think of my favorite places to eat, Fat Matt's Rib Shack on the northside of Atlanta, the Flying Bisicut off McClendon Avenue, Doc Chey's in Virginia Highlands, and the Watershed in Decatur. All of these places not only have amazing food, but they hold memories. Fat Matt's is where we go after hitting the Sweetwater Brewery, the Flying Bisicut is for Sunday morning brunches, Doc Chey's for cold days with friends, and the Watershed for first dates and celebration dinners with friends.
This Thanksgiving I changed my tradition and found new sacraments. I drove with Megan to Albert Lea, MN to spend the week with her parents. Not only was it the most entertaining weekend I ever spend in such cold, but the food was there. The same sacraments were there but because it was with different people and we did different things. But we came together because of the food. We know that the food will bring us together, it will give us new memories and new reasons to be together. So now, when I think of being in cold weather and being with friends and going to community Christmas pageants, I'll think of Megan's family and friends and cornish game hens.
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