Ihave this romanticized notion that in retirement I’d like to run a bed-and-breakfast.
I enjoy living in exotic locales, meeting new people and drinking coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice. My favorite meal is breakfast, particularly if it’s a fry-up.
Once I start imagining the rest of the day maintaining a B&B, the romantic vision sours a bit. I do not like to make the bed, nor does the cleaning of bathrooms a fulfilling retirement make.
The lesson I distill from this strange attraction I have to running a B&B is that I like some of the perks, but don’t want to have to deal with the nitty-gritty that makes the perks possible.
I think this is how Bikes, Blues and BBQ affects our city. We love to host visitors, love the revenue that all the motorcyclists bring in, love all the great music, character and drama. But wow! That many motorcycles in one place is really loud. And the traffic!
All of which illustrates how amazing, and how difficult, true hospitality is. To truly be hospitable to the other, you cannot do it on your own terms.
Your neighbor and their needs and rights inevitably impinge on your own.
In the case of Bikes, Blues and BBQ , those of us who are residents of funky Fayetteville are called to simply celebrate that we host such an amazing event.
The music puts us on the map culturally. Thebarbecue positions us so we are no slouch in comparison to larger and more famous barbecue cities such as Memphis and Kansas City.
Motorcyclists travel great distances to enjoy our city, restaurants, bars and parks.
And when they arrive, they discover the beauty of riding in the Ozarks. It’s the kind of event a community can brag about and live into.
I admit, I have a special place in my heart for bikers.
Although I don’t ride a motorcycle (we’re still in the bicycle and Burley stage of life), we hosted a blessing of bikes at the beginning of the season at our church.
I love the character of the biking community and the bikers’ commitment to one another. There’s something spiritual about it. Similarly, I adore the blues. Blues music is an honest spirituality, shorn of fancy hair, autotuning and shiny teeth.
The best blues illustrates what it means to be human, without the patina.
And of course, what in life isn’t better when it is soaked in barbecue sauce?
Sauces are the kind of food people labor over, love up, experiment with and share.
After a glass of cold water, there is no clearer expression of hospitalitythan the offer, “Would you like to try this meat slowroasted for the last 24 hours on a hand-turned spit and dipped in the special sauce my great-grandmother whispered into my ear when I was a child until I had it memorized?”
Sauces are the culinary analogue of religion.
Our own faith community is hosting a barbecue, with blues, tonight. I’m thrilled that some bikers - and other members of the community - might ride up and encounter hospitality.
And yes, afterwards someone will have to clean up, including that sauce that spilled all over the floor.
And that is, precisely, the earthy mysticism of hospitality. It includes cleaning up while the sounds of celebration are still ringing in our ears.
THE REV. CLINT SCHNEKLOTH IS PASTOR OF GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH IN FAYETTEVILLE.
GO & DO BARBECUE PICNIC Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is hosting a barbecue picnic at 6 p.m. today at 2925 Old Missouri Road in Fayetteville. A concert with Nate Houge and Jonathan Rundman will follow at 7 p.m.
A free will offering will be taken for the Cooperative Emergency Outreach program.
Information: 521-2113, goodshepherdnwa.org.
SOURCE: GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
Religion, Pages 12 on 10/01/2011