This is a followup to our NE Pennsylvania pizza experience. It was quite filling. You should probably read it first.
(here)
(Note: Yes I know that enjoyment of food is relative. Everyone has their own tastes. Some are just more refined than others…)
—
After we finished eating our pizza, I was thirsty – thirsty for knowledge. We went back to our hotel and I pulled out the laptop, determined to learn more about this new “traditional” pizza. Boy was I surprised!
Apparently we had just dined in “The Pizza Capital of the World”. Don’t believe me? Google the term “Pizza Capital of the World” and look what comes up: Old Forge, Pennsylvania. I dare you. Yup, it was news to me too – me and anyone from Chicago or NYC. (Here is a CNN article talking about it.)
It turns out that the pizza we had eaten, and mocked, is the pride and joy of this tiny area of Pennsylvania. The folks there are so enamored by their unique style of pizza, that they built pizzerias on every corner, and staked their claim to the title of “The Pizza Capital of the World.” Who knew?
So it looks like their “traditional” pizza WAS traditional – to them. And the shock and despair of throwing two “cuts” away may have been sincere. (I’m still not about to store leftover pizza on the TV – I have to draw the line somewhere.)
The problem is, even with all the tradition, the fame, the cheese, we still didn’t like the pizza. Maybe it is an acquired taste.
As I am wont to do, I started wondering if there was a lesson to be learned from all of this, and, if so, should I share it with you. There is, and I will.
Sometimes we are too judgmental.
Just because things are different, doesn’t make them bad.
People are people, even in Scranton.
“Just because it’s a tradition doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck.”
There you are. That is the message I took away from “The Pizza Capital of the World”. Even if I am wrong about the pizza, I am right about the message.
As individual, families, businesses and church units, we sometimes embrace traditions that maybe don’t deserve to be institutionalized. Sometimes we really think that those traditions make us unique, superior, better, wiser, righteouser, etc. (Yes, I know righteouser is not a word – but it should be) But sometimes things become enshrined as traditions because we are too comfortable – or too lazy – to figure out a better way to do things. Can it possibly be that there are better ways of doing things out there? Ways to improve families, youth groups, wards, relationships, ourselves? Do we keep looking for ways to improve, or do we claim that we have it all figured out and put a sign up saying that we are the best?
The problem is, sometimes we define ourselves by these “institutionalized traditions” and behaviors that aren’t all that great. In my opinion, Old Forge, PA has defined itself by embracing a tradition of mediocre pizza. Do we ever do that? Do we define ourselves with by accepting mediocrity?
Have you ever heard anyone say:
“Yeah, I have a short temper – I guess I’m just wired that way.”
or “I’m not a big believer in attending church – my parents were pretty fanatic about it.”
or “Our family always takes mom out to dinner on Mother’s Day.”
or “I’m not very good at getting my home teaching done – I don’t see the point.”
or “I work because I have more to offer than just being a wife and mother.”
or “I guess being late to church is just our family tradition.”
or “I’m just not much of a reader.”
You get the idea.
I can also look around and find people and families who have embraced excellent traditions – traditions that I would like to emulate. Traditions of family unity, service, of missionary work, of kindness, of temple service. Why settle?
I’ve got to make sure I don’t support “Institutionalized mediocrity” in my own life, family, work or calling.
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Elder Russell M. Nelson recently spoke to the BYU-Hawaii graduates and said:
“You enter a world caught in a steep, slippery slide of diminishing moral values.
Against that backdrop, your character and integrity will stand out in stark contrast to the surrounding masses mired in mediocrity. You will be anchored to eternal truth.” (link)
—
–I’m gonna go check the top of the TV to see if we have anything leftover for lunch.
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Oh the traditions of man! The Church is full of them, and most of them are false false FALSE doctrine. And it drives me nuts.
ha ha, nice. You really pulled that one out…
Wisdom can be gained from anything, including crappy pizza.
Have you been teaching G.Doctrine’s lessons about the Corinthians? 🙂
Sounds like that pizza, probably along with some other traditions might need to be changed.
I’m sorry… did you say something?? Traditional or not, ever since seeing the cheesy, spinachy goodness spilling out of that pizza, I’ve been completely distracted (and hungry).
While I absolutely cannot budge on having either green beans or salad with spaghetti, I get an unrighteous amount of pleasure out of shaking things up at church. I swear I don’t do it just to make waves, but out of need to be true to my limitations and my strengths (and hopefully by inspiration). It just makes me smile inside when it happens. 😉
So now I have to worry about traditions of my fathers AND traditions of my PIZZA? Man…
Great post! Lots to think about. I’ve often been troubled by that “we always do it that way” attitude. I’ll be on the look out for it now in my own life. Thanks for the food for thought … and all from eating some very strange pizza … who knew?
Oh man. The area we live in embraces traditions of mediocrity. I cannot tell you how many times (in church, clubs, scouting, etc) we have suggested something and been met with, “We’ve always done it this way.”
Come to think of it, the Celestial Kingdom is the only one where we will continue to “have increase” for eternity (I’m thinking of the meaning of increase as personal growth here, not having children, obviously), and they say you’ll be be in the place you are the most comfortable…. so, there you are.
(Anon/M) I came back from Church, hoping that you would have those “words of wisdom” you had promised…and was not disappointed. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post. The only thing that would make it even better is a comment from your #1 Fruit of Your Loom.