Humans value rituals. I can't pretend to understand why. And we, as Americans, have our rituals. It's just that we don't recognize the ritualistic aspects of our behavior. Take the Super Bowl. It's a time for us to gather, eat, drink and watch the latest commercials. Some are even interested in the Game. Go figure.

Sure, we have our traditions. November and December are filled with tradition. We eat a certain type of food, sing seasonal songs and decorate our homes. Malls are filled with desparate shoppers, right up until the last minute on December 24th. In fact, shopping on Christmas Eve is a tradition that borders on ritual for many of us.

One behavior that approaches ritual is when we sit down together to a meal. It's very difficult to be hostile when a meal is shared. Eating together is an important part of being human. It's also something that probably doesn't happen often enough, considering the importance food plays in our well being.

Today I was able to break bread twice with two different sets of friends. At lunch one of my vendors purschased lunch. We talked. We reached some understanding. It was good. This evening some of my friends from Ceday City travelled to St. George and we dined together. I was able to provide a meal for them. Of course, I stayed within University guidelines and bought my own meal. I don't want to get into trouble.

It's funny, but I've come to understand the importance of sharing certain experiences. Building relationships is key to getting things done. And there is certainly more to building relationships than just eating. But we shouldn't underestimate the importance of breaking bread with our fellow travellers............
9:53:12 PM    comment []