On the little things

LAST WEEK, I spent some time in the company of some Evangelical friends in what turned out to be an enjoyable and convivial time. I expected nothing less, mind you. It was a party where everyone brought a dish. There was food of every stripe and language under heaven: just the delicious numinous of an Evangelical get-together.

IF YOU’RE WONDERING, I tried to bring Cheese Stuffed Apples. These are cored Apples with Camembert, Cream Cheese and a dash of white wine in the center. The cheese mixture was fantastic, but the apples did not look too good after chilling in the fridge for the required three hours. So, I just bought some Brie and cut up a bunch of Green Apples. It was simple, tasty and very Episcopalian of me!

ANYWAY, SOMEONE MADE a wonderful lemon cake that was light and moist. It had the most perfect icing on the outside and three layers on the inside. There were lemon peels and blueberries on top. It was to die for; it was heavenly. I became very quiet, savoring each bite and thanking the Lord for such decadence.

I SUPPOSE THAT it was good for me to get quiet, because while I was eating cake, the conversation turned towards the Theory of Evolution and how it subverts the Faith. Some made points that others added or supported. Everything was discussed from the obvious (“Where did the molecules come that caused the Big Bang?”) to the mind-numbingly ridiculous (something about the rotations of the universe).

I STAYED QUIET and enjoyed the cake. Its not that I believe or do not believe in Evolution, or that I think the two-thousand year old theology is in danger because of it. I stayed silent because I just do not understand science! For example, when I took Biology I studied my butt off and still made a grade vastly lower than the rest of my classes. My mind just doesn’t work that way: I’m too much whatever-the-side-of-the-brain-is-utilized-for-music-and-language to get it! With all this in mind, I stayed quiet. For the first time in my life, perhaps, I realized that I shouldn’t opine on a subject because I don’t understand it. Truly, this was a function of God’s grace!

WHEN THERE WAS a lull, I remarked “Before this gets too heady, I want to say that science doesn’t make any sense to me, but I don’t need to understand it. I know that there is a God because of this cake.” They laughed, of course.

BUT, I THINK being thankful for a piece of cake is just as important to my theology as prayer, liturgy and contemplation. I hope you won’t think it flippant.