More than ever we need rituals that teach us how to live slower, more non-anxious lives. Sometimes these rituals can be obviously spiritual, like mediation or solitude—but sometimes they can be ordinary, fun, and delicious. With proper awareness, I honestly believe barbecue can be a powerful spiritual practice.
Kids have horrible taste. My parents often brought me to the Cedar Shed, a small barbecue restaurant in the small town of Hugo, and I hated it. The meat tasted nothing like pizza and the sides couldn’t compare to McDonald’s fries. Barbecue was gross.
Until one day.
Laverne, the next small town I lived in, had events catered by Troy. Troy was not a restaurant. Troy was a dude who smoked ribs. These ribs were life-altering. Exaggeration? Nope. And you can’t prove me wrong if you’ve never tried them. They were juicy, smoky, and full of flavor. This started a lifelong love and appreciation of this ancient art form.
That’s right, I said art form, stay with me.
I’ve enjoyed barbecue all over the south, up north in Chicago, in California, in Hawaii, and in the past 7 years I became a practitioner.
But why write about smoked meat? Food blogger, I am not. Like all things, I see the spiritual nature of this practice and what it can teach us about living with more awareness of a divine presence, battling chaos, and becoming a non-anxious existence.
Whether you are a vegan, meat lover, a barbecue enthusiast or not—it can be a powerful spiritual practice that teaches us an alternative way of living. A way that is counter-cultural. It can teach us about living a non-anxious life, full of rest and enjoyment.
The Four Spiritual Laws of BBQ
Low
First, some clarifications about barbecue:
- I assume you know this, but in case you don’t—grilling is different from barbecue.
- The act of “going to a BBQ” is not the same as the art of barbecue.
- I don’t even know what “put another shrimp on the barbie” means, but I’m pretty sure that’s different too.
The key characteristic of barbecue is the use of low, indirect heat. Many of the traditional meats used in barbecue are bigger, tougher cuts that require low heat to breakdown the fat and fibers.
Grilling uses high heat to sear the meat, allowing the flames to kiss the outsides. But barbecue uses smoke to gently transform the entire structure of the meat.
Life is more like grilling. Life is high pressure. We have a word for this high pressure:
Stress.
The stress of nonstop news. Work and financial pressures. The stress of presenting yourself on social media. Relational conflict and drama. Pressures to perform, or succeed, pressures to prove your value.
On top of this, we are surrounded by noise, distraction, and screens. The pressure is high and hot. The heat leads to burnout and exhaustion.
Why else is meditation one of the fastest growing health trends? Why do people spend hundreds of dollars to travel on a retreat where no one is allowed to speak?
We are desperate for low pressure. For calm and stillness.
The practice of barbecue can teach us to abandon the chaos and turn down the pressure.
Slow
I don’t like to wait for my food. If I want roasted chicken, I go pick up a $5 rotisserie chicken at Costco (grabbing a 10-pound jar of pickles and a year’s supply of paper towels while I’m there because, you know, it feels right.) When I don’t want to drive or battle the bitter California weather, I pay a door dasher to deliver food to me. If I want cheap tacos and don’t care about the state of my intestines, I go through the drive thru at Taco Bell.
I like my food like everything else. Immediate. Fast. Convenient.
But barbecue is different. This might be its defining trait—it is slow. It takes time for the low heat and smoke to breakdown and transform the meat.
Smoking a brisket can take over 16 hours. Pulled pork, 20 hours. Ribs around 6 hours. Working at a barbecue joint requires waking in the middle of the night to start the process, just to be ready for lunch.
The slowness is my favorite part. It requires patience and waiting. It’s literally the opposite of fast food. It’s slow food.
Of course, it’s not just food, everything is fast.
- We don’t “clock out” from jobs anymore. Our work is available in our pockets.
- We get notified instantly of the latest tragedy or injustice across the world.
- The world seems to change every two years. New technology, new trends, fresh problems.
The practice of barbecue can teach us to sit down and wait. To be patient and still and non-anxious.
Simple
I love those chef documentaries. You know the ones? Beautiful orchestral music played over footage of a brilliant dish on the table, each a piece of art. And they interview the chef, who is always a little insane but a genius who talks about their inspiration to pair lamb with horseradish and crumbled dried eel covered with roasted jelly and a twist of vermouth. Although it’s exceptional and fun, it’s complex.
Barbecue has minimal ingredients. First, there is the meat. Then, a rub comprising a few seasonings. The smoke. Finally, some sauce (different areas of the country will determine how sweet or wet you like it. I for one, prefer little to no sauce.)
Barbecue restaurants and at home cooks debate and argue about which seasonings are the best or how sweet to make the sauce or which wood has the best flavor, but when it comes down to it, the elements are simple.
The concept of “simple” seems foreign. Impossible. Allusive. Nothing is simple anymore.
- Finances: how do you navigate the Great Resignation and inflation and cryptocurrency and NFTs?
- Metaverse: what is it? No clue, but it feels inevitable.
- Politics: it’s not just policies, apparently it’s about identity now.
- Jobs: what will the landscape look like in the next 10 years with remote work and automation?
Obviously, I could keep going. All of this makes our bodies and souls to crave simplicity. Something stripped down to the basics.
The practice of barbecue can show us the beauty of simplicity.
Ancient
Have you seen the latest smartphone? An A14 Bionic chip and augmented reality and gorilla glass and flux capacitor!! I don’t know what that means, but I know I’m buying it when it’s available. Because it’s new. And new is better.
But that means my current phone is old and outdated. 2-year-old technology is so obsolete.
New ideas and technologies. The up-to-date trends. The new fashions and perspectives. We value the new for a minute until the next new comes along and we forget about the old.
There is something powerful about committing to things that are ancient. Things that have stood the test of time, across various cultures and trends.
Scientists have discovered evidence of smoking meat as far back as 200,000 years ago. The Bible talks about burnt offerings and the cooking of meat. In the East, ceramic urns were used for smoking, in the West rotisseries were used to slowly turn and cook meat. Before he was president, George Washington had a large smokehouse and once wrote, “Went in to Alexandria to a Barbecue and stayed all night.” (The first president apparently knew how to party.)
The practice of barbecue can connect us to humanity, reminding us we are but a vapor and mist that is quickly vanishing away. Our new technology and trends do not make us more enlightened or evolved. We are connected to our ancestors in ways we don’t even realize.
But Barbecue Is Not The Point
Maybe you don’t like barbecue. Maybe you don’t like meat. That’s fine. My point is not that everyone should buy a massive smoker and throw weekly parties that George Washington would be proud of. We all need practices that teach us an alternative and counter-cultural way of living.
Writing and woodworking are other practices for me. Gardening is another. Fishing yet another.
Walking, playing music, cooking, baking, farming, reading… there are many options.
How about you? What would it look like to invest time and energy into a powerful spiritual practices that are LOW, SLOW, SIMPLE, and ANCIENT? In a world that is stressed, fast-paced, and frenetic, imagine being a non-anxious person full of unhurried calm.
Maybe these practices can help transform us.
Maybe these practices can teach us to be more patient and less frenetic.
Maybe they can show us what an unhurried life feels like.
Maybe they would inspire us to minimize and strip away excess.
Maybe they would teach us to be more human.
(Finally, feel free to use this article as a resource for convincing your significant other that barbecue addiction is ok…because you’re getting spiritually healthy. You’re welcome.)
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My good friend Scott got heavily into barbecue and now has a highly entertaining YouTube channel, that you should check out: I asked him a few questions:
What made you fall in love with BBQ?
Smoking BBQ requires you to slow down and enjoy the experience no matter if you are setting up your pit temperature for low & slow or hot & fast. It takes time to prepare, smoke, wait, wait some more and eat! I have found that entire experience fired me up, no pun intended! Another rewarding part is being able to bless others with bbq. BBQ brings people together from all walks of life. Most of the time, you can say the word BBQ, and it brings a smile to your face. For example, I met a neighbor at our park randomly. We got to talking about BBQ. Next thing you know, we start hanging out, making bbq! I just love it!
Why did you decide to make BBQ such a valued hobby?
A mentor once encouraged me that every person should have a hobby they enjoy outside of their job. I tried running, biking and realized I have no sense of joy doing this at all! I have always been a foodie and love experiences that bring a sense of peace and joy. The process, from beginning to end, brings a deep sense of calm and peace. Years ago, I learned from the book, Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. Brother Lawrence (c. 1611–1691) was a lay monk who served as a cook in a monastery in Paris, France.
“The most holy and important practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God – that is, every moment to take great pleasure that God is with you.” – Brother Lawrence
What’s your favorite thing about the process of smoking something?
My favorite process starts with fire management. As I’m creating BBQ, you have to be hands on every step of the way! I love the process of starting a fire to get to the clean & coveted clear blue smoke. The process of building a fire is super exciting! Sparks flying, crackling, and the flame is powerful. I also enjoy watching something transform from a fresh cut of meat, salt brining (that’s another conversation), and seeing it turn into beautiful tender meal that everyone enjoys! Although waiting isn’t a valued thing in our culture, it’s the most important ingredient in smoking good bbq. Waiting as the food smoked and resting your meat is crucial to tender & tasty bbq. So much parallel to the spiritual life, which is another reason I enjoy it so much!
If you want to hear more about the counter-cultural power of “slowness” check out this episode of my podcast: Slow Is the New Fast
7 Comments
Excellent stuff! Being a fan of The Q and a passionate pursuer of the stillness of a faith led life, you reminded me of somethings. Thank you, sir!
Thanks Ron, so great to hear from you! I’m sure you could teach me a lot, about both.
Awesome, Adam! I cheat and use a thermostatically controlled electric smoker. But there’s still the prep: trimming the meat. Salting a half a day before smoking. Making the rub (I have perfected my own!). Determining whether to use Apple or hickory or oak or a combination. Then figuring out when to put the meat into the smoker – sometimes it’s 1AM if I want to serve at 5pm the next day! Then getting creative with the sauces – I have about four “go to” sauces that I make from scratch. The whole process makes me slow down. Lowers the blood pressure. I think I need to Q more often…
I don’t think that’s cheating! Is your rub a secret or sharable? I have been leaning towards oak the past year as my favorite Texas-style spots seem to mostly use oak. I’m right there with you, it slows me down.
I grew up on an 80 acre ranch in Cupertino. My 10 year old person would come home from school and change into t shirts, jean cut offs and tennis shoes and climb the hill to get my horse then put on the bridle on Inga and swing up to ride bareback over the hillside trails looking out into what would soon become Silicon Valley. Back then I would ride up into the hills, through pastures, orchards and vineyards and partnering with my horse would just quietly be a part of God’s creation, a part of the changing seasons. The quiet solitude and yes “unspeakable joy” of a relationship with God. Maybe this is like barbecue, a good book, slowing down so you can better see, hear God speaking though his creation, giving joy and love to his child.
Wow Claudia, this is amazing to hear! I can’t imagine Cupertino and Silicon Valley in this way. I couldn’t agree more, being out in nature and creation helps me slow down more than anything else. As much as I love Sunnyvale and this area, I do miss the openness and expanse of Oklahoma!
The view from the ranch out to the valley in the spring looked like a large quilt with 100 acre patches of pink and white blossoms and then green fields. The towns were small islands scattered here and there. The tourists came on buses to view the spectacular spring blossom show in one of the richest agricultural valleys in the world. Times have changed and The Valley of Hearts Delight is now Silicon Valley. Change is part of life as nothing stays the same. However I pray that as technologhy has brought people from all over the world to our valley that we can grow a new and different crop of diversity, respect and community that can harvest understanding and a more peaceful world. My prayer that we can be the change we so desperately need to see in this world.