Thursday, March 31, 2011

Blueberry Banana Pecan Pancakes, Sin, and Jesus


As a waiter at Cracker Barrel I encounter some pretty odd dishes.  None compared to the one I encountered last week.  A man came in with his wife and was very straightforward and to the point.  He said, "Yes I know what I want to drink and I'm ready to order."  I was happy because I was getting a drink order and a food order on one stop at the table.  I took the order and noticed something strange as he was ordering, he ordered a flavor explosion!  He said, "I want the blueberry pancakes.  Oh yeah, please put pecans and bananas inside please.  I need two blue syrups and one maple syrup.  Also I need sausage and sunny side up eggs.  Please bring a large milk with the food as well."  I was exausted just taking the order, not to mention wondering how he would stomach the food he ordered.  I dashed off to plate up the palate pleasing plethora of pancakes.  When I told my manager that the man wanted all the ingredients inside the pancakes he had this sour look on his face.  I felt his anguish inside as well.  My manager said, "There is a lot going on there."  I thought that was funny because there was a lot going on there.  There was way too much going on there.  I just didn't see how that could tickle any man's fancy.

I took out the smorgasbord of a pancake breakfast and was delighted at the response of the man.  He said, "I think this is the first time someone has gotten everything completely right.  You have gotten everything perfect.  You are the man.  There is one thing I forgot to ask you for, and that's ketchup.  But everything looks perfect."  I scooted off to get the ketchup and returned shortly.  The man and woman didn't really need anything for the rest of the time they were there.  But as they left the man left a nice tip and thanked me again.  I went back into the kitchen and reflected on what the customer ordered, what my manager said, and just soaked it all in.  I really didn't know until just yesterday what God was trying to speak to me about.

As I was reflecting on this crazy man's order I began to see some parallels between the pancakes and the man and us humans and God.  As disgusting and vile as I, my manager, or anyone of my friends at work thought those pancakes were, the man who ordered them couldn't have been happier with them.  Even though there was, "a lot going on there"  the man loved them all the same.  I imagine our sin that separates us from God has us looking really ugly to a lot of people.  Many people wouldn't want to touch us with a ninety-nine and a half foot pole if they knew some of the nasty things we have been a part of.  But God loves us.  When I brought those pancakes the man was very happy.  He had everything he asked for.  The one thing he didn't ask for, the thing that set the whole plate off for him, was the ketchup.  When the man asked for the ketchup he introduced something to me that blew me away.  Without the ketchup that plate of pancakes was useless to him.  With the ketchup he was completely satisfied.  In fact he said it was perfect.  I believe the blood of Jesus can set our plates off!  We are in a slimy stinky mess of sin.  But when God looks at the blood of Jesus covering our sins, he is extremely satisfied.  God has made a way through Jesus, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2%3A13-15&version=NIV, and I would invite you to pour a little ketchup on your slimy pancakes.