Dear Friends,
In my previous posting I expressed extreme gratitude for one of the world’s greatest inventions. A device that has single handedly promoted family unity. A device, had it been around, might have changed the course of Biblical history. What could this wonderful device be?
For centuries scholars have struggled to understand why God would accept the offering of Abel and reject Cain’s offering. Some have theorized that it is because God likes meat. Others have suggested that Abel offered the first fruits of his labors and Cain instead offered the leftover rutabagas he had lying around. Even more perplexing is why the distinction would so enrage Cain he would strike his brother dead.
I offer you today the possibility the reason for this murder may be more obvious that we ever realized. Could it be that the age-old battle between siblings as to who had to clean the roasting pan with the meat cooked on, raged in this household? Further to be exasperated by the nights when the task for preparing the family’s feast landed to Abel. A culinary genius, so skilled he could make Gordon Ramsey cry, he fed his family heartily only to leave piles of darkened pans for his brother to clean. Cain would be trapped in the kitchen scrubbing for hours unable to watch the camel races on TV. A situation very different from the nights when Cain would cook placing before his family a meager salad of spring greens and a side of seasonal fruit. On these nights Abel merely had to wisp the dishes with water and his task was complete. The disparity must have caused the rage to well up in Cain until he could stand it no longer. Picking up his scouring stone, he struck his brother dead and then went home to gnaw on a carrot.
How unfortunate they were not born thousands of years later, when in 1886, Josephine Cochran could have saved their home such pain. This grand lady, worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize, invented the first workable dishwasher.
Blessings,
Stephen