The Coffee, The Drinker and The French Press
It was like the French Press was speaking to me: "I don't understand. What did I do wrong? Why am I being packed away?"My friend has loaned us her Keurig for a year while she's abroad. The beautiful machine and a box of coffee cups arrived late on Tuesday night. We immediately plugged it in and enjoyed its glorious beverages.This morning I washed the French Press and prepared it for storage. Oh sweet coffee press. I feel terrible that I won't be using you anymore. I feel guilty for moving on from you so quickly. You have been so wonderful. So faithful. So good.And then it dawned on me. I was focused on the wrong thing. It's not about the tool that makes the coffee, it's about the coffee and the drinker of the coffee. If the Press really loves me and loves coffee, it will be okay with a nice life in retirement. For if the Press really loves me, it will be glad that I am being served by such a wonderful machine. And if the Press really loves coffee, it will be excited for the wonderful beans to be brewed in such a glorious way. Of course the Press will hold on to the sweet memories of its service and there will be days of pain and longing. But if it has the right heart, the Press will be a huge fan of the new season.- - -This is how my mind works. I see metaphors everywhere. Some are profound and beautiful. Some, like this coffee revelation, are a little goofy and odd. But bear with me!I am the Coffee Press. The Coffee is God's Kingdom & favor. The Drinker is the Body of Christ and the world.God made me for a purpose and gifted me with skills and talents to serve Him. Some seasons He uses me in incredible ways. And the Body of Christ and the world gets to drink in God's goodness because of me! Oh the glory of getting to serve God in such a way! I love when He uses me to do beautiful things.And then, the season shifts. A gift I had seems to grow stronger in someone else. A project I birthed gets moved into someone else's hands. A ministry I gave my all to moves in a direction I don't understand. A church body I invested in changes its style and I feel sidelined.Ever felt that way?Is this common to all humans. Seasons change and our roles and relationships shift.The question is: What do we love the most? Do we love the Kingdom (Coffee) and the Body & world (Drinker) more than we love ourselves (Tool that makes Coffee and serves the Drinkers)?I love new seasons and change... when I'm a tool that's involved in the new season. But real humility and love grows in the times when I am side-lined. It gives me a time to focus on my love of God more than my love of doing things for God. And at the end of the day, I just want to be ready for whatever purposes He sees fit to use me for. I will be glad regardless of whether I'm in everyday use... or in storage clean-and-ready for an occasional use.
But God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and "Those who claim they belong to the Lord must turn away from all wickedness." In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. (2 Tim 2:19-21)
How about you? Ever been in a season change where your involvement wasn't valued? Do you relate to my sweet Coffee Press? Did you feel rejected? Forgotten? Unloved? Jealous? What do you do to focus on loving the Coffee & Drinker more than loving your function?Want to read through the Bible with me? Today’s readings are Psalm 39; Luke 22:1-30