Come, Eat Fair Food
Abandon Simplistic Ways For The Taste Of Wisdom
by Eric Elkin
“Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine I have mixed.
Abandon your simplistic ways and live;
walk in the way of understanding.”
The line-up is out announcing the new foods to be offered at the Minnesota State Fair. I'm so excited I can barely contain myself. Let me give you a taste of what is to come. How does a Blue Raspberry Blitzed sound to you? It is described as a "Traditional hand pie filled with a raspberry, blueberry and apple blend infused with UV Blue Vodka and topped with cotton candy sugar."
If that sounds too sweet, how about Banh Minn Bun and Banh Minn Bowl? This is a Vietnamese-inspired dish of Asian spiced sausage covered in Sriracha sauce served in a crusty baguette. If that sounds too bland, don't worry. They also throw shredded and pickled carrots, radishes, cilantro, and chopped jalapeno peppers on top.
My approach to the state fair always begins the same way. I examine the foods to be offered. Select the food options most appealing to my taste buds and their locations in the fairgrounds. Then Peggy and I chart a course to each location.
It sounds like such a good plan, but it always fails in the end. My adult stomach cannot handle the volume of food or all the complexity of flavor and grease. I will probably only end up having some mini-donuts and a few Bison Bits. It's all my stomach can handle.
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
While I am planning what to eat, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus is decided what to carry. For this group, the Minnesota State Fair presents a different challenge. They are fighting for the right to choose between taking a handgun or an assault rifle. However, to have this choice, they need to win a lawsuit.
At the moment, guns are banned from the fairgrounds. The hurdle for the gun owners group is while the State Fair is operating by the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, it does not receive any public funding. As such, they will argue the Society has the right to establish the rules.
Here is the funny (and sad) thing about the lawsuit. The political director of the caucus, Rob Doar, has openly stated, "This is not about whether or not it is a good idea to carry [a gun] at the fair." Maybe it is not, but it should be. Where does do my right not to be around armed citizens at a family/community event come into play?
Proverbs is a book of lessons designed for adults to teach their children. Lady Wisdom is an expression of God inviting humans to live abundant lives. As we prepare for the Minnesota State Fair or any fun event, we should listen to her. "Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. Abandon your simplistic ways and live; walk in the way of understanding."
Or to put it into a vocabulary Minnesotans can understand. Pick up a deep-fried pickle and a waffle burger and put away your gun. And, let's make our way over to the Birthing Center to see the piglets.
Click to read Proverbs 9: 1-6
Reflection Questions:
What is your favorite “Fair Food”?
Where do you go to have fun? How often is that fun threatened?
How do we decide individual rights from group rights?
What is wisdom to you? How does it provide abundant life?
Like it? Take a moment to support Ordinary Voices on Patreon.
More for you . . .
From the blog . . .
