Savoring the Culture of Blowing Rock

The Culture of Blowing Rock

Jim Berge

So there I was, in Blowing Rock, North Carolina one evening. It was 7:30 and I was hungry. Local hangout or chain restaurant? I pulled into the Outback, but noticed a little barbeque joint adjacent to the parking lot. The choice was obvious. When I travel, I always prefer the local hangouts.
     Inside, a backlit stained glass portrait of two pigs dancing in the forest decorated the rustic walls, all of which were covered with pig paraphernalia, including a beautiful still life painting of a table with a rough linen napkin, a spoon and a crystal glass of water, all splattered with barbeque sauce, of which the white bowl, in the center of the table, was full. In the middle of the bowl was a little pig, up to its snout in barbeque, a hog-heavenly look in his happy eyes. Other accoutrments included a Bill Monroe poster and a handwritten menu describing the “Pig Out” meal (requires two people).
     The live music was provided by a local guy and gal. His specialties were the dobro, guitar and banjo, hers the piano, rhythm guitar and vocals. I ordered iced tea (always comes sweet in the south), and quizzed the waitress about “The Hog.” “Is it really a huge pile of food?” Her innocent eyes honestly assured me that the total amount of food was not that much. So I ordered “The Hog,” a variety platter consistent with the Perceiver part of my ISTJ personality type, and leaned against the wall, listening to the excellent bluegrass. Wooden picnic benches, wooden floor, a “Hogs Are Beautiful” poster and gals in overalls serving platefuls of meat and topping off the iced tea, served in Ball jars.
     The food came. Oh My Goodness! I kid you not; they served it on TWO of those triple-compartment paper plates:

The first plate:
Compartment A: Corn bread and butter, and corn on the cob.
Compartment B: Beans.
Compartment C: Cole slaw.

The second plate:
Compartment A: Half a dozen ribs and some chicken wings.
Compartment B: Piled HIGH with shredded pork barbeque.
Compartment C: Piled HIGH with shredded beef.

I think it is safe to say I have never ingested so much protein, triglycerides and saturated fat in one sitting before in my life. But MAN was it GOOD! The south is the place for barbeque. Great food, excellent bluegrass, locals laughing and chatting...God used this experience to confirm the message he gave me a couple weeks ago: “Jim, you've been asking me to guide you into my will, yet you complain about your job all the time. Stop complaining. You are where I want you right now. Learn to be content whatever your circumstances.” I listened to the Lord's message, and began thinking positively about my constant travel. The travel drains me, but tonight was his way of assuring me that he will take care of me if I simply trust him.
Tonight was one of those memorable experience that I'll cherish for a very long time, like one evening last summer when I was in Seattle on business. Wandering downtown shortly before sunset, I noticed a concert being prepared out on the pier. I make my way down to the waterfront just in time to watch the sun set behind the Olympic Mountains and listen to Earth Wind and Fire from the street. Oh What A Night! Praise be to God, the giver of gifts, the one who cares for us when we least expect it.

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