Theology of Breadmaking!

So... being allergic to eggs (anaphalatically speaking) for the majority of my life, there are certain practices and routines that to others - would seem crazy - but to me, are just part of life. Often when growing up, this allergy required the majority of my family to make most of our own food - pasta, baking, bread and buns, cakes... you name it. In fact, just about everything yummy has at least part of eggs baked into the long list of ingredients. Trust me on that one!! I dare you to try it. Go grocery shopping and as you're walking past everything good, holy, and amazingly delicious, look at the label... probably has eggs.

I have learned that it is possible to make cookies without eggs, cakes, squares, breads, buns, cinnamon buns, and other wonderful desserts... they can all be made without eggs. However, by failing horribly, I have discovered that it is not possible to *successfully* make bread without the appropriate amount of yeast. In fact, without yeast - the dough is never able to do what it is supposed to do: rise.

Well, as a theology student to be, something as simple as making a loaf of bread really got me thinking... without Christ, I will never be able to do what I am supposed to do; I will never fully rise to being the best that I can be. Just like the bread dough requires yeast, I require Christ.

Okay, that is straight forward enough... however the other part of this crazy theological thought is that because every single loaf of bread requires yeast, that would mean that every single individual out there requires Christ, at least in part. I guess when I actually thought about it - how different my life has been because of Christ and just how different the lives of those around me have been because of this "yeast" in our lives.

The clincher of it all comes down to this though... the observation is that yeast when added to dough does something special... something that no other ingredient can do... it causes the dough to grow. In fact, sometimes, the dough will even double in size. It's not because there is suddenly more dough, but the yeast just has a certain effect on the dough.

As a Christian, trying my hardest to follow Christ and walk in this journey, I can't be afraid to grow... I can't be afraid to allow this yeast type ingredient in my life to have it's full effect...sometimes I attempt to stop the yeast from acting by turning away... by sinning and not seeking forgiveness... by hiding or running. But what would happen (just imagine) if I were able to "double" in size in regards to my faith and Christian practices? What would happen if the effects of my love and service for others doubled just because I chose to include yeast in the calculations?? Just imagine what a difference that would make...

Just a thought I'm workin' on...