Pretend for a moment that the Bible were rewritten for the twenty-first century. While we’re pretending, pretend that I was in charge of writing the parables. If I were writing parables, my theme song would be “2000 Man” by the Rolling Stones.
As I would sit and cobble away at parables, I would write one called “The Parable of Rick’s Atomic Café”. It would be about a little, unassuming café in an office building in Costa Mesa. Small and unflashly, though it may be, it would serve some of the finest bistro food in the land. But it would only serve to those wise enough to look past exteriors and venture inside.
The proprietor would be a good and personable man. He would personally come out from the kitchen to see if the mango chutney was too spicy.
But of course, the basis for my parable would be the real Rick’s Atomic Café. Rick’s is a wonderful place where the food is as good as the location is unremarkable. And yes, the owner did check to see if the chutney was too spicy. See if they give you that kind of treatment at TGI Friday’s.
