Taking a cue from barbecue

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Samantha Smith

BLOGGER PROFILE

Being raised in the South, summer is my favorite time of year. Whether it’s sitting poolside, riding in convertibles and roadsters on the highway, or enjoying dinner on a restaurant patio, summer is an opportunity to reconnect with nature and our local community.

There is no summer without visiting family and friends for a cookout. Whether for a holiday or just because we want to gather, barbecues are one of my favorite summer traditions.

While the burgers, chicken, and ribs hit the grill outside, the sides bring the excitement indoors. Potato salad, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese are comfort food staples. Fresh-cut fruit like watermelon, strawberries, and peaches adds bright colors to the plate.

And if you need a bit more sweetness, desserts like banana pudding, ice cream, or chocolate chip cookies are a delicious conclusion to a meal shared with loved ones.

Barbecue has a unique history of bringing people together, and that tradition continues to this day. The art of barbecue cooking is rooted in African, Native American, and European traditions.

Techniques from all of these cultures helped to shape the way we enjoy barbecue today. From whether you prefer smoking or grilling to eating with your bare hands, barbecue is rich in style, tradition, and taste.

The joy of barbecue is that it takes time. It requires you to slow down and truly enjoy it. In a society that celebrates speed and convenience, barbecue reminds us that some things cannot be rushed.

The same is true of our faith.

There is no quick way to cook flavorful barbecue. It goes through a unique process that requires hours of cooking, with some of it done overnight. It is not an instant method of cooking; it requires intentional actions, various steps, and community. This is what makes barbecue a wonderful example of faith.

Every so often, my father smokes chicken for dinner. In recent years, he has also smoked our Thanksgiving turkey. He’s shown me how he does it, and it is an intentional process of getting the smoker to the right temperature, placing the meat inside, and maintaining the heat to ensure it cooks thoroughly.

What struck me about the process was that it wasn’t something he could decide at the last minute to do. Not only did he need the meat, but he also had to make sure he had the proper tools to begin the process.

Once he had everything he needed, smoking the meat would take hours. It was a low-and-slow process. He would go outside and check on it periodically, making sure the smoker and the meat were at the proper temperature. After several hours, the meat would be done, and we would enjoy eating together as a family.

This process made me pause and reflect not only on how barbecue brings us joy and time together, but also on my own spirituality.

I started to consider how intentional I am in my own prayer life. And when I make time to pray, what are my “tools” for prayer? How often am I rushing through my prayers versus taking time to truly have a conversation with God? How am I making it through the waiting periods of life? Where does community fit into my faith life?

Just as meat spends hours cooking, our spiritual journey takes time and requires us to be intentional. We need to make time for God, whether that’s in daily prayer, Eucharistic adoration, or attending Mass. Our “prayer tools” can be physical, such as a Bible, a rosary, or a prayer journal.

But they are also found in the sacraments we share with our parish community, through engagement in ministry and volunteer opportunities, and through our civic engagement as we seek to care for one another and our world.

Just as my father checked on the meat to make sure it was cooking properly, these intentional actions are how we check on our spiritual progress.

In the times we feel distant from God, silence is our tool for reconnecting with Him. This time with God can fill us up, much like the smells, sounds, and tastes of a barbecue plate made with love and shared with family and friends.

Barbecue is a cooking experience that reminds us that there is beauty in taking our time and sharing it with others. This Fourth of July, may our spiritual journeys remind us of the art of barbecue: being intentional and patient brings a unique joy in our relationship with God.