So Minnesota

Social commentary from our own Bridget Marie Murphy Hoffman, who got it in turn from Marcella Kahn:

Eino, a Finlander from Cook County in northern Minnesota, was an older, single gentleman who was born and raised a Lutheran.

Each Friday night after work, he would fire up his outdoor grill and cook a venison steak. Now, all of Eino's neighbors were Catholic. Since it was Lent, they were forbidden from eating meat on Fridays. The delicious aroma from the grilled venison steaks was causing such a problem for the Catholic faithful that they finally talked to their priest.

The priest came to visit Eino and suggested that he convert to Catholicism. After several classes and much study, Eino attended Mass. As the priest sprinkled holy water over Eino, he said, "You were born a Lutheran, and raised a Lutheran, but now you are Catholic."

Eino's neighbors were greatly relieved until Friday night arrived and the wonderful aroma of grilled venison filled the neighborhood. The priest was called immediately by the neighbors. As the good priest rushed into Eino's yard, clutching a rosary and prepared to scold him, he stopped in amazement and watched.

There stood Eino, clutching a small bottle of water which he carefully sprinkled over the grilling meat, and chanting: "You were born a deer, and raised a deer, but now you are a walleye.”

Illustration by Duane Raver, courtesy of the US Fish & Wildlife Service.