Jan
11
Momofuku Ando-Ave atque vale
Filed Under Ave atque vale, Culture
Momofuku Ando died in a Japanese hospital last Friday. He was 96 years old. His death merits Sweet Dropper space because Ando made a major contribution to our lives, especially the lives of college students, grad students, seminary students and ministers (and their children): he invented ramen noodles and the instant noodle cup. In 1958 he unveiled Chicken Ramen, the world’s first instant noodle product. Ando was inspired to develop the instant noodle after coming upon a long line of people on a cold night shortly after World War II. They were waiting to buy freshly made ramen at a black market food stall. The experience convinced him that “peace will come to the world when the people have enough to eat.” He went on to found Nissin Food Products Co., the industry leader in Japan. In 1971, Nissin introduced the Cup Noodle featuring instant ramen in a waterproof plastic foam container…and the rest is culinary history.
Ando’s death caused me to reflect on some great moments of one-to-one ministry as an RUF intern at Mercer University and other moments with college students while an assistant pastor in Auburn, Alabama, over a couple of 15-cent packs of instant ramen (beef and shrimp are my favorites, by the way). There is a lesson here about hospitality. Hospitality, in the biblical sense, does not require Lagasse-like chef skills or Martha Stewart-esque decorating and presentation acumen. The welcome and openness of hospitality does not require food, but in the Scriptures and over history it nearly always includes eating meals together. I think about Luke’s description in Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-36 of the early believers’ fellowship: sharing all things in common and eating together–some of the language may well suggest the Lord’s Supper, but certainly it was not restricted to that, especially if they celebrated it like we do! And hospitality can take place over instant ramen, leftover chicken, or some chips and salsa. Opening our homes and lives to others will require of us an awareness of Jesus’ sacrificial welcome to all who come to him, a light hold on material possessions and a commitment to a simplified lifestyle–and instant ramen fits into that quite well.
So here’s to you, Momofuku Ando, unwitting accomplice to the subversive welcome of the gospel of the ever-blessed God. I’ll be raising a bowl of empty carbs swimming in an MSG-laced brine in your honor in, oh, about three hours.
Comments
Leave a Reply