Marriage

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The Co-ed Wedding Shower

The contest rules were simple; bake a cake with no recipe and no measuring utensils. Flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, milk, eggs, chocolate chips, cocoa, and vanilla lay strewn before them – he on one side of a shower curtain used as a separator, she on the other, both with shower caps on their heads to serve as mock food service hair nets. Ready, set, go! The dumping and stirring and splattering were met with cheers and unsolicited advice from the audience full of young men and women. Finally the two pans slid into the oven. What would they look like twenty minutes from now? Even more, what would they taste like?

In the meantime, there were games and food and gifts and music, laughter and more games and more food and all the hopes and dreams that come with a couple staring at a wedding date. My baby girl would soon be married!!

Later, the cakes were cut into cubes and shared so that everyone could cast a vote. Hers, a gooey chocolate chip bar cookie, won over his, a lighter chocolate cake, by one slim vote.

Tonight a wide moon-trail glitters across the lake, leading me beyond yesterday’s party, beyond myself, and beyond my own marriage. The moon’s face might as well be that of God Almighty, smiling down through intermittent clouds to lead me to an inner place where I can rest, knowing that HE IS the recipe, He provides the cups that measure grace so abundantly.

There have been plenty of adventures, plenty of “cakes” baked in the hot ovens of our married life, with no tangible recipes in sight. One time mine turned out better, another time his did – but overall, none were really bad! Looking back, I realize our successes have been discovered out there on that moon trail, where we’ve walked on water toward a common Source.


copyright 2005 Beth Muehlhausen

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