The town of Austin, Minnesota is known as “Spamtown, USA.” George A. Hormel founded his namesake slaughterhouse and meatpacking facility there in 1891. Housewives in the late ’30s soon grew accustomed to the idea of unrefrigerated meat. The brand made its global mark during World War II, when the U.S. military purchased a variety of canned meats to feed troops overseas. Hormel’s figures put the number at 100 million pounds of Spam sent abroad to both American and Allied soldiers.
By the end of WWII, thousands of American GIs returning home would refuse to eat it. But while the core of America pushed Spam aside, the canned meat became a culinary sensation in much of the Asian Pacific and Hawaii. The United States placed sanctions on Hawaiian residents, restricting the deep-sea fishing industries. Because islanders were no longer allowed to fish, one of the important sources of protein for the islands vanished. Spam took its place.
Across the Pacific, residents of Korea and Japan were on the point of starvation. The cans of Spam coming in were an absolute godsend. Today, Korea is the world’s second-largest consumer of Spam (after only the United States). Japanese immigrants to Hawaii are credited with inventing Spam musubi, a Hawaiian version of onigiri that binds a cooked slab of Spam to rice with a piece of nori.1
This blog is not about promoting Spam. But the longevity of the product deserves scrutiny. What can disciples learn from it? Are there transferable lessons that surpass time and borders? We can glean at least 3 principles for our purpose: Product, Preservative, and Perseverance.
Product. The Greek word kerannumi is translated as “combine,” which means a mixing of two things so that they are blended and form a new compound; E.g., combining a highly toxic and reactive element sodium (Na) with the poisonous gas chlorine (Cl) produces table salt (NaCl), which is edible.2 The Gospel is the good news that gives hope; it speaks of what Jesus has done that we may have life.3
Preservative. At the time spam was introduced, it was the only canned meat product on the market that needed no refrigeration.4 Regardless of who we are but because we have been chosen, we are like salt—useful for improving taste, curing, and preservation. We are messengers of the Truth.5
Perseverance. It is finished.6 And the Word of God continued to increase, . . .7 As declared by Isaiah, [before Jesus] every knee shall bow,8 from every tribe and language and people and nation,9 transcending race, culture, and tradition. Therefore, . . . let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross . . . 10
Notes:
1. https://www.eater.com/2014/7/9/6191681/a-brief-history-of-spam-an-american-meat-icon
2. Barker, Paul. Faith To Live By—A Practical Guide To The Life Of Faith (2012), p103-104
3. John 11:17-44
4. Ruvio, Ayalla A. (July 2, 2017). "How Spam became one of the most iconic American brands of all time". The Conversation. Retrieved July 6, 2017
5. John 14:6
6. John 19:30
7. Acts 6:7
8. Isaiah 45:23
9. Revelations 5:9
10. Hebrews 12:1-2
