Opus 2021-195: Dinner Is Ready

Psalm 128:3 refers to a man having his children around the table.  This made me think about how we were urged to have dinner as a family.  One cluster of research says that a factor in raising children we can be proud of is family dinner with discussion instead of tweets.  In my mind that was always a picture of us gathered around the kitchen table.  We used to wait for my father to get home from work and all eat together.  We continued that with our children.

The principle might be consistent around the world and through history.  My thoughts go to how this is implemented.  Could we define cultures by what is central to their meals?  Table cultures would involve the Asians, Hebrews and Romans.  Pot cultures would be African and Arabic.  

You might also divide them by how they sit.  Chairs and stools are one way.  Cushions are another.  The Romans used couches.  Many sit on the ground.  Some squat.  

Then you have the different utensils used by different cultures.  Asians seem to prefer chop sticks and spoons.  Some only use knives.  Fingers are common.  European groups have developed a whole family of utensils.  

These are all outward cultural devices.  They do not do away with the central concept of a family eating a meal together.  That breaks down when we put the kids in front of the TV or give them money to go to a fast food place.  That is a break down whether you sit in a chair at a table using Wedgewood or squat around a common pot and use your fingers.

Don’t do lunch.  Do a family dinner.

homo unius libri