Coffee and Friends

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My esteem of the blessed bean is well known. I fairly gush when people bless me with a bag of these marvels of creation as I relish the enjoyment that is to come my way for days to come. Darkly delicious brews every morning to awaken the senses of sight, smell, and sound (my FAVORITE morning sound is that final "gurgle" of the coffee maker!) make getting out of bed a joy. Combine that with regularly scheduled moments of quietness before my Maker and mornings are something to which I look forward.

Imagine my pleasant surprise in discovering that Lee Gross, a young man I had the privilege of ministering to during his high school days, is working on his masters degree from the University of Vermont and is spending the summer in the Dominican Republic, get this, working with coffee farmers! Yes, I immediately contacted him and asked about coffee. I didn't ask him how he was doing, or if life was treating him well, or even how his mother was doing. No, I dispensed with all the social niceties and cut directly to the chase. Would it be possible for him to procure for me a few bags of those beautiful beans? After all, this was coffee we were dealing with and the summer is growing long in the tooth. Time was of the essence. We could visit later about family, life, and love - maybe even over a cup of the marvelous mud.

After securing his promise of procuring the goods for me I dug a little deeper and discovered an opportunity for people like me to make a difference. There are coffee cooperatives springing to life in poor countries and they simply need customers. It occurs to me that I am one. Granted, I will not be able to afford these premium coffees all the time, after all I have kid starting college and two more to follow soon, but I can treat myself and a few others to some wonderful coffee every now and then and in so doing offer hope to some folks in some desperate places in our world one cup of coffee at a time.

Here are a couple of links for you coffee bean counters out there. Wooden Bike Coffee brings coffee to your door from the volcanic soils of Rwanda and is helping rebuild lives and communities in that devastated nation. The cooperative Lee is working with is Cafe' Alta Gracia. I have enjoyed a shipment from Wooden Bike earlier this year and will eagerly await the arrival of the coffee from the Cafe' Alta Gracia. Perhaps I will let you know about its brew soon.

If you have a moment stop by Lee's place and find out a little about what he's doing down there in the Dominican.

I've got to find a master's program like this!

Of Prayer and Coffee

I have shared my journey of glorious ruination concerning coffee. I am no longer content to partake of the long ground and short flavored stuff found in cans and bags of various description. Sure, it's still coffee but it's missing so much. Why settle for a stale scoop when a fresh, fine grind is available?

For those of you enjoying a cup from the house of Max or some ostensibly hand picked by Juan Valdez I can only shake my head in sorrow at all you are missing. For those of you who, like me, are relishing the marvelous complexities of a freshly ground brew (This morning Marquesas de Caseras from Brazil, medium roast) I lift my cup in congratulations. To be sure, in a pinch, I will drink a lesser cup of coffee but it is ALWAYS done in silent protest. You see, I know there is better coffee to be had and though I can endure a lesser version I long for that which I have tasted.

Which brings me to prayer. Through the years I have prayed many prayers both private and public. From time to time I have encountered the great prayers prayed by saints who have gone before and I have wondered at the difference that was, and is, evident in their prayers. I knew I was missing something and, truth be told, I know I am still missing it. I know there are better prayers to be had and though I have endured my lesser versions I long for that which I have tasted. As an example I offer this prayer from the opening of The Whole Armor of God, by John Henry Jowett.

Eternal God, may no distraction draw us away from our communion with Thee. May we come to Thee like children going home, jubilant and glad. We have been in the far country and our garments are stained. May we hasten to the ministry of forgiveness and reconciliation. If we have been on fields of heavy battle, where the fire of the enemy has been awful and unceasing, may we hasten to Thee for the overhauling of our armor, and for the renewal of our strength. If we have been called upon to walk weary roads of unfamiliar sorrow, may we turn to Thee as to refreshing springs. If we have lapsed from our high calling, may we renew our covenant. If we have missed a gracious opportunity, may we seek another chance. If we have been counted faithful in any service, and have fulfilled our commission by the help of Thy grace, may we hasten to give the glory to Thee. Unite us, we humbly pray Thee, in the holy bonds of Christian sympathy. Deepen our pity so that we may share the sorrows of people far away. May we feel the burden of the burdened and weep with them that weep. May we not add to our sin by ceasing to remember those who are in need. Grant peace in our time, O Lord, the peace which is the fruit of righteousness. Let Thy will be done among all the peoples, so that in common obedience to Thee all the nations may find abiding union. Amen.

Mmmm. That's good prayer. I think I'll have another cup and I'm pretty sure I'll not be satisfied with lesser prayer in my own life.

Coffee Ruined

I have ruined myself. Folgers used to be fine. In fact, I chose Folgers over other brands in the past. I repeat, in the past. Folgers hasn't changed, so far as I know. I have. It began with the seemingly innocuous and novel grinding of beans in the grocery store aisle. It smelled good and made a cool noise in a place immersed in elevator music (gag!). My change progressed when I received a bean grinder for Christmas. Now I could grind at home! My family LOVES the early morning sound of beans being ground. It is music to my ears and a sweet aroma for the nose.

The completion of my coffee ruination has only recently occurred. I returned from Venezuela accompanied by nearly 10 pounds of beans, which I saw hand packed by some wonderful Venezuelan ladies. So, each morning for the last month (and a few afternoons) I have relished, yea verily reveled in, the marvelous sweetness of freshly packed and freshly ground Venezuelan coffee.

So, how has this ruined me you ask? This morning the wonderful and thoughtful ladies in the office brought me a cup of unadulterated coffee (I drink it black - the only way to truly enjoy) and my taste buds revolted at the obvious taste of long canned and short flavored Folgers coffee. Alas, I will never be the same. Ruined! Gloriously ruined!