A Nostalgic Coleslaw Sandwich (04/25/2026)

Dr. Kate Wiskus
3 days ago
2 min read

Yesterday, as I stood at my open refrigerator trying to figure out lunch, my eyes settled on the small container of coleslaw, and I grabbed it and two pieces of bread and made myself a coleslaw sandwich. And I must tell you, it was even more delicious than I remember it being when it was my Friday night supper at games as a Catholic cheerleader in the south. Nostalgia is great!

As a Catholic and a cheerleader in South Georgia in the sixties, eating on Friday nights was a real challenge. About the only hot thing available at the concession stand was a hot dog which I couldn’t eat because of meatless Fridays. But in that neck of the woods, coleslaw was the topping of choice. So, I’d order a dogless hotdog sandwich with coleslaw. It might sound ridiculous, but I grew to love them. And my cheering squad members out of curiosity tried them, too, and eventually, the whole squad was eating dogless slaw sandwiches with joy.

And you know what else, it opened the door to sharing about my faith and why no meat on Fridays. I learned years later that those conversations led to conversion. Who knew that a menu could be an opening into a new path, a new life, a new faith?

I’m not necessarily advocating the promotion of coleslaw sandwiches worldwide. Rather, I am advocating facing the challenges of our journey resourcefully and joyfully because they might be the very door another will use to embark upon a new journey in Christ. Thinking back to my years of Friday night coleslaw sandwiches and the conversations they spurred, I must say that the LORD used my positive resolution of a problem to His advantage. I give the credit to the LORD who inspired my cuisine choice and who picked the curiosity of observers.

Today’s first reading from the 1^st Letter of Peter urges Christians to be humble and vigilant. If we as Christians can tackle problems we encounter not from a stance of entitlement and anger but humility and joy, might we become vessels of the LORD in the world today?

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.