Over the past several months, I have been reading C. S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. Published in 1942, its themes and tone are surprisingly modern and relevant while being laugh out loud funny and cringingly accurate in its portrayal of the human condition. One example is the explanation of ‘modern gluttony’ which highlights the progression of gluttony from mere excess to delicacy.
The gluttony of delicacy is described in wickedly amusing terms as the ‘All-I-Want’ state of mind. The pursuit of ‘all-I-want’ is to become thoroughly consumed with everything being ‘just so’ or done ‘properly’. I see a bit of that in the popularity of the ‘experience’ restaurant or vacation. Even in the coffee place up the street from me where every cup is made to meet the exacting criteria of the customer. To be clear, I was very excited to try this new coffee house. It was there that the idea of using heavy whipping cream in my coffee instead of mere half and half changed my coffee habits forever. I cannot claim to be immune to the siren call of an experience.
The first time I read the passage introducing modern gluttony, it caught my attention because a group of us had just gone out to dinner for what was meant to be a truly extraordinary dining experience. It did not turn out that way. Instead, it became a memorable evening because of the series of unfortunate events that began the moment we arrived. Once freed from the confines of our dining hell, the group began to dissect the experience. It was an easy sport, and I took my shots.
I am not sure where I am going with all this. I do know that in the very same moment I was a willing participant in the evening’s critique, I recognized the ridiculousness of it all. Yes, while our expectations had been raised then dashed, how lucky we all were. Safe, housed, fed, and confident that all of these luxurious offerings would still be there tomorrow.
Street Symphony, an organization committed to bringing the joy of music to Skid Row, performed Bach’s Ich habe genug cantata at the Sierra Madre Playhouse over Labor Day Weekend. The translation is I have enough. The community narrator who shared the stage during the performance spoke about living on Skid Row, the sense of community, and helping others. It was a beautiful performance, a truly magical experience.
All I want is to remember I have more than enough.
