A Piece of Cake
In Cupcake Brown’s A Piece of Cake, the problem of evil is explored through the life of the author. Cupcake goes through a life of drugs, prostitution, rape, violence, death, gangs, abuse, multiple foster homes, hopelessness and despair since the age of 11. Along the way she senses a “guiding force” and a network of people that tells her “don’t go down that alley” and she somehow manages to stay alive. Her life keeps going downhill until she is beat up, homeless, and walking on the streets. She was emancipated and had lost any hope whatsoever. The turning point for Cupcake was when she stood in front of a mirror and saw the state she was in. She decides to say “God, I don’t know how to do this, but help” and His response is to go back to the job she had recently walked away from. To her surprise she is accepted back in the job, and she starts the road to quitting alcohol and drugs. She finds accountability partners, goes to college, goes to law school, graduates “magna cum laude without a high school diploma or a G.E.D.,” and becomes a lawyer at an extremely prestigious law firm. She is finally inspired to share her story. She goes from one of the lowest and worst situations possible and somehow becomes elevated higher than she could dream of. 2/3 of the book consists of Cupcake’s constant down spiral. By that point I had no hope for her – her life was consumed by drugs and hustling. With the problem of evil, here, we ask why did this happen? Why would God allow such a thing in her life?
My response is this. After she was brought so low, she came to a point where she realized that the only thing that would help her is God. His continual guidance on her strengthened her faith beyond what it could have been. She also has inspired many people with her story. I believe there was a purpose for all of her trials. What she went through ended up being for the greater good. It is not for us to ask why. It is to know there is a greater purpose, and as Cupcake puts it “Pray, trust, work hard, and grab hold!” I would encourage all of you to check out her about section on her website and read the book sometime.
Pray, trust, work hard, and grab hold!
Image credit: www.cocoasavvy.com
Blogging Theodicy 
I enjoyed your interpretation of the trials Cupcake goes through. Would you say the problem of evil is merely an illusion and her experiences were actually a Godly act or that some form of evil is present, but God triumphed?
May 5, 2011 at 4:47 pm
I would say that her experiences were allowed by God and that her experiences that saved her and brought her to where she is was a Godly act and He triumphed.
May 15, 2011 at 12:24 am
I never heard of this butwould you say her experiences were some sort of trial to get her to have faith in God to better her life?
May 9, 2011 at 6:30 pm
At first I didn’t even think this was a real-life book. I though it was just fiction, but by being real is way more interesting. Many people ask questions about why bad things happen and all of that sort of thing, and I like how you are plugging a book that gives hope for people looking for answers. Also, I liked you answer to why evil and bad things happen. It’s larger than just one person.
May 10, 2011 at 5:45 pm
I don’t particularly see the problem of evil being present in the book based off your analysis; I solely see the presence question you pose as to why bad things happen.
On a side note, this seems like a more modern version of the novel, Go Ask Alice. If you enjoy this sort of biography that cupcake envelops, I’m sure you’d enjoy the novel.
May 11, 2011 at 5:58 am