Breaking Bread, Southern Style

Recently, I saw a show about luxury RVs. This episode was about large Class A motorhomes that are leased to NASCAR drivers at each race. When the RV arrived at the track, it was pre-stocked with all the foods and snack that the driver liked. Once the fleet of custom RVs were in place, chefs would arrive to prepare meals all weekend for the driver and their significant others.

Maurice Petty once told me they had a similar luxury back in the day. Maurice said” When I was at the track, I had a cook, who would also clean-up after me, and watch my kids. From the kitchen, Maurice’s late wife Trish called out, “Yeah, and I was all three”.

And the irony was women were not allowed in the pits, (unless you were a Winston Cup model). Wives and girlfriends in the 60s and 70s had to camp out in paddock area of the infield, usually in the company of hundreds inebriated fans. When the men in the pits had an opportunity, (usually just before the race), they would come out and grab a quick bite, then go back to work. And after the race, the families would often be sitting at the track long after the fans had left, waiting for the men to finally emerge from the pits.

But the hardship was shared among all the families, and this created a sense of community. So, while the Petty’s and Allison’s were fighting it out on the track, (sometimes literally), their wives shared homemade meals in the infield, and their kids played football together.

Sharing a meal with others has always been away for people to bond and communicate. Often mealtime is the only time when families talk face-to-face. It can also be a intimate setting, or an opportunity to make peace. Sharing a meal in the Bible was a very common setting where many of our most powerful images come from, like the Last Supper.

For example the word “eat” is found in the New Testament 152 times alone. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus revealed many of His sacred truths with the apostles over a meal. And just as it is today, most people feel a blessing when they can provide a good meal for others.

This concept was often practiced in NASCAR during the sports heyday.

The larger, well-sponsored teams would often share with low-dollar in dependent drivers. Teams like the Petty’s would receive allowances from Chrysler to feed the crew at the races. The Petty’s would always buy double what they could consume in cold cuts on the way to the track. Then over the weekend, the drivers and crews of the low-budget teams would stop by to help themselves. This may seem like a small gesture, but many of these independents driver/car-owners wouldn’t have had enough gas money to get back home if NASCAR hadn’t agreed to give them cash instead of check at the end of the race. That’s how tight many race budgets were.

Some racers were able to put on a much bigger spread when the race was held near their shop.

Junior Johnson’s annual breakfast became a well-known feast all the racers looked forward to attending.

It would take place on the weekend of the spring Wilkesboro race. On Saturday morning, Junior & Flossy would have breakfast at their house. They would set up long tables and serve their famous smoked hams. The outings would host 30 to 40 people. (Flossy got to be well known for her cooking, and even wrote a cookbook, Flossie’s Favorites).

Other teams also took their turn at feeding their competitors. When the schedule bought the racers to Martinsville, it was the Woods Brothers turn to have a feast.

“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you”. Luke 10:8

In today’s jet-paced world where you see 4 people sitting together all with their noses buried in their cellphones, a person must work at making time to sit with loved ones and friends, and talk face to face, enjoying each other’s company.

There are few wasted words in the Bible, and the fact that the entire Word of God frequently references the idea of breaking bread together means it is an example we should follow.

And as always Jesus gives us the best example to live our life.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Mathew 26: 26-29