There was a book that came out in the early 1980’s that poked fun at the modern notion of masculinity. The title of the book was “Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche” and, while it is a work of satire, it was driven by observations of behaviors that caught the eye of the author. Among those was a sense that quiche seemed to be somewhat more feminine in its appeal.
If you look at a recipe for quiche, you will see that if you take out the crust and the cream, and throw the remaining ingredients into a frying pan, you can make yourself a delicious plate of scrambled eggs or even an omelet. Not only do you use fewer ingredients, but it is ready much faster, so those “real men” can have a hearty meal and be out working their masculine jobs in no time. And frankly, by keeping most of the same ingredients, the taste is likely to be appealing either way. Certainly not identical, but is it different enough to warrant the extra time and effort?
For some people, the answer to that question obviously is “no.” And if you were to always eat the entire plate of scrambled eggs in one sitting, so that there are no leftovers, then you might not notice a place where there is definitely a difference. You see, the extra steps of using a crust and adding cream, when added to the different cooking method of baking, creates a meal that has better stability, allowing it to keep a bit longer in the refrigerator or even survive a trip to the freezer in much better shape compared to scrambled eggs. So on that basis alone, following the quiche recipe as it is written has some deeper benefits. Plus, there are many who find that the extra ingredients do make for an end product that tastes better than scrambled eggs.
So why the discussion about quiche and scrambled eggs (other than it being breakfast time)? Because many people take a similar approach to the Bible. They read the book, and realize that if they leave out a few of the parts, thereby modifying the instructions, they will be left with a life that still satisfies them that day and is essentially as good as if they had followed the instructions completely. By focusing on the immediate product that is acceptable by their standards, they don’t realize that God intended for them to have something better – not only today, but over the course of eternity.
You see, God’s plan provides for the long-term stability that we need because our souls will survive long beyond our physical bodies, and the Bible provides important instructions on how to prepare for that eventuality. If we only take from the Bible the parts that we like, we create an end product that isn’t what was intended and, while being personally satisfying on the day that it is consumed, it won’t be capable of getting us past this mortal experience. For that, we need to follow the instructions carefully, even if it requires that we spend more time and effort in the kitchen.
So enjoy a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, but if you want something that can easily last for multiple meals and get you past your immediate hunger, try cooking a quiche. They are worth the extra effort, and real men really do enjoy them too!
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron