Good Morning Coffee! For me, it is a habit, a ritual, a part of my life that I have embraced since I was ten years old. It was very early on a cool October morning heading out to the Boy Scout Jamboree when Mom introduced me to the magical elixir. I truly believe there was more cream and sugar than coffee but the distinctive flavor was there. 
Since we spent many of my teenage years in sunny Florida, I don’t recall this magical occasion being repeated often. Toward the end of High School I became a regular coffee drinker.
After joining the military I recall showing how much of a “Man” I was by drinking my strong black coffee like the drill instructors did, from a plain clear eight ounce milk glass. Coffee was ingrained as a pattern in my life. It was my partner in waking up. Coffee was the instrument of great conversations and fellowship. When I became a Christian it was a well accepted companion for late night discussions and Bible studies. There were other beverages I enjoyed along the way. But Coffee was the staple of the day, every day. When health concerns pointed to excess, I quit drinking coffee for about three years. The aroma was always wonderful. Even when I did not drink it for a while, I would appreciate the presence as others enjoyed it. At one time I took a three year pause from enjoying this warm stimulating friend. Today, over fifty years after that first cup, I enjoy my morning coffee. Some days I think I welcome it a little too much; but it is not just a morning habit. I have found that the hot cup of caffeine does not inhibit my ability to fall asleep as soon as my head contacts the pillow.
It has been wonderful to learn much of coffee flavors and varieties from my adult son who has a penchant for perfection in all things. The beans from differing locations roasted to different levels of doneness bring out treasured flavor feasts which can only be described as heavenly assaults on my palette. Our common appreciation is a bonding and joyous time.
Coffee has been the primary choice in times of sorrow, sadness, joy and jubilation. Some choose chocolate, I choose coffee. It has been the staple at military strategy sessions, boring board meetings and quiet intimate personal moments. It is preferred on cool days and cold night, crisp mornings and autumn afternoons. Oh, it is true that I do enjoy hot teas and cold ones, cocoas and hot jellos, crisp clean waters and flavored ones. Yet nothing compares to the flavor, stimulation and comfort of the coffee which is so interwoven into the fabric of the story of my life.
But coffee, like life, sometimes has gritty, bitter, nasty moments at the end of the cup. Even though we carefully use filters and attempt to strain out the unwanted texture of well ground beans, it happens. It is usually unexpected. It can happen when you are enjoying the conversation or reading the book or jotting down a few thoughts as the warmth and flavor stimulates your heart. Then suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere they appear. You knew it was possible because it had happened before. Still it is there and it is not pleasant. It doesn’t destroy the pleasure or the memory but it certainly takes the moment away.
The only recourse is a good rinsing of the pot, the cup and even the mouth. Then a fresh pot is put on to brew and joy comes again. Ahhh, such full aroma.
It occurs to me now that life and relationships have a lot in common with my coffee experiences. People warm my heart. Closeness to the ones I fit in well with adds value and purpose to who I am as a god gifted human being. It is in the mix with others that I am able to fulfill His purposes and encourage their treasures to burst forth in their own lives. There can be stern moments and sweet ones, even some tempered with the cream of life’s wisdom. Likewise there are times when I relate to people as though my mouth is filled with a large swallow of unexpected gravel like tasteless grounds which have slipped passed the filters.
I filter my relationships through my own set of rose colored glasses and do not always fully appreciate their place in God’s plan for me. And because of my inadequate filters I miss some of the flavor they are intended to be. Even worse is my reaction to the unexpected needs and desires of others.
The flavor my life brings to some is quite different from what others may bring. I have been ground, brewed, filtered and set to the perfect stimulating flavor the Lord intended me to be. That is His plan for my impact. Yet I don’t always want to be poured into their lives to the fullness God intends. Nor do I accept His prescription for their desired flavors as He has intended.
Life is more than just breathing and eating and drinking warm coffee. It is the relationships we have with others. As we use our unique gifts and talents to provide resources for others, we are rewarded. We use those rewards to enhance our experience and understand the purpose each has for us. Clothing, food, automobiles and homes all are significant rewards for our labors. But they are more like the cup which carries the coffee. The people, the personalities, the brokenness of lives we can be used to mend are the tasty brew with aroma and sweetness. When evil or careless people or even unpredictable tragedy occurs, we find the gritty grind at the bottom of the cup. . We tend to want to stare at the old cup, wondering why the grounds are so nasty and why the harshly burned murky mess got into our cup. Nobody get through life without a nasty cup or two.
Forgiveness washes the cup, dries it and brews a fresh pot. We cannot undo the damage or remove the nasty sensation of those less than enjoyable events, but we can enjoy a fresh cup. It is seldom an easy task. Sometimes we need friends to brew the new pot and coax us into tasting again. The best cup for the next cup is the Jesus cup. He knows our sorrows and the harshness of our moments. He may not have chosen it for us but He did know it was coming. So He placed Himself in the hands of your friends as a new flavor to wash out the grit and use it to strengthen the you He needs you to become. Then in His proper time, you will be the friend offering the Jesus cup in a way no one else can. Enjoy another cup.