November 5 – “On Mac and Cheese”

It started yesterday.  Chris was in Bay City, so Mom and I went to lunch with the family.  This time that included Christina, Jachin, Micah, Josiah, Nathan, April, and Cailyn.  And we didn't go to Golden Corral.  We decided it was time for a change, even it would be temporary.  Our destination became Chilis.  It's located at the East End of the island, so it felt like we were really going somewhere special.  Not as special as if we had to go into Texas, but special, nonetheless.  And Chilis has a pretty diverse menu, so we figured everyone could easily be accommodated.  Be careful of the assumptions you make.   There were not many others at the restaurant.  We got there enough ahead of the lunch crowd, I guess.  Or maybe everyone was staying home because it's motorcycle rally weekend.  We got them to push two tables together, and the manager kept checking on us to make sure we were OK.  Everything was rolling along fine until the waiter came to take our order.  Mom and I did fine.  We just wanted something boring off the regular menu.  But then it was Micah's turn.  And he wanted macaroni and cheese.  Nothing else, just mac and cheese.  His Mom was great in dealing with the problem, and finally she promised him mac and cheese for dinner if he would order something else for lunch.  Nice job, Christina.  The meal was great.  The company was super.  We missed Kel and Chris, of course.   And then today.  We sat down for the lunch Chris prepared for us.  A real treat, by the way.  It is so good to have her home.  And the most prominent side?  Macaroni and cheese.  Chris said she had been craving it.  Now she had no idea about Micah's request yesterday.     A simple coincidence?  Perhaps.  But what is it that causes cravings, anyway?  And is it possible that there is some kind of neural connection between Chris and Micah that is just now coming to light?  Questions.  Questions.  It drove me to ponder one of the questions of the decade.  What was the point when the guy that created noodles did it?  I can see the flat, rolled out, cut in long lines kind.  I can see the purpose behind the pita bread looking kind with cheese and stuff inside.  But what about the crinkly at the edges kind?  Decoration, or hidden purpose?  And how about spaghetti?  How did they get it stay round and skinny?  Or my all time favorite question: why do noodles have a hole in the middle?  Was it an accident or made by design?  Too many questions.   Colossians 1:15-17 says, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."   Father, thank you for being a remarkable designer.  Amen.