Social Networking Your Food and the Joy of Sharing Prosaic Pleasures

Last updated on: January 31, 2013 at 2:09 pm by Jewel Evans

Social Networking Your Food and the Joy of Sharing Prosaic Pleasures 2013-01-31T14:09:57-07:00 Jewel Evans

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I work in the food industry. I’m a barista at a local coffee shop in the city where my husband and I live. I’ve been a barista for about five years and I love what I do. Part of the joy of my job is something called free-pour latte art. And it’s been within the last year that latte art has been possible for me to achieve. I can pour a simple rosetta on the surface of the latte, a heart, and occasionally I practice the tulip. The art isn’t perfect every time, but it is a sign of care in how the drink is made.

When the design shows up and the drink is passed off to the customer and they exclaim with delight at the design and pull out their phone to snap a picture, I feel two things: 1. thankfulness that they noticed the design and 2. hopes for them to have a greater appreciation for the drink because of its beauty.

Why am I thankful that they took a picture and might put it on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook? Because they get to share with others something wonderful by way of a simple photograph. They are giving others an opportunity to see something alongside them, even though they are not right by their side. When friends of mine tweet or Facebook a photograph of a latte (or any food item, for that matter) I smile and thank the Lord for his grace to give us the opportunity to see beauty in what we eat and drink.

Why do I want them to appreciate the drink? It’s simple. So much of our daily lives cause us to rush through good food and good drink. It is easy to miss the good gifts that God has given us by way of delicious and beautiful food to see, eat, and drink. When a customer of mine can wait for a few minutes as their drink is being made, and then come to see the beauty in it, that means something to me. They may not be as excited as I am about the design, but in some small way I hope that I helped them see something worth appreciating.

There is an increasing number of individuals who share photographs of the food and drinks that they are eating. Regardless of the motivation or intended purpose, we can simply look at the drink or dish and thank the Lord that He has provided something to enjoy.

General Culture

Of the Moment

Previous Post

January 31, 2013

The Moviegoer: Zero Dark Thirty and the Question of "Real Tradecraft"

Next Post

February 1, 2013 Notes from the Margins: Hushpuppy, Stereotypes, and the Kingdom of God

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz