Ever heard of Postmates? It's a 24/7, on demand delivery that will bring anything to your door. I've used it 3 or 4 times, this morning was one of those. I put in a Postmates order for an Americano from Jubala. I watched the website process and this wheel labeled, "searching for drivers", spin and spin and nothing connected. I assumed the Postmates drivers were probably sleeping in, or just might not be out braving the rain. With an, "ugh" I exited out of the website and shut my laptop screen. "I guess I'll take the time to make a French Press instead." Disclosure: Jubala is 3 minutes from my house...it was RAINING ok?! Lazy...first world...entitled...extra...diva...I know throw all the labels at me. I'll take the hits.
To be honest (real honest), it's always a hit or miss with me and this dang French Press. I either execute an incredibly great cup or an incredibly weak-spit-it-out-of-your-mouth cup. I've come to the conclusion that when the latter happens..I am usually overthinking it. Not enough water...too much water...ground are too coarse..ground are too fine...did it bloom long enough? I worked (in the kitchen) of hands down the best, one of the most "prestigious" coffee shops in the area...with some of the best baristas. And yet STILL I fail to create a good cup of coffee. I know all the terms, all the techniques, have watched countless how-to videos, and even had a lesson or two from some of my barista friends.
Needless to say this morning was a MISS, a big fat L for my French Press and I. When I lock eyes with that sucker it's like I know I'm going to come out humbled on the other side. So I sat in my chair and sipped (choked) (kidding it wasn't that horrible just not up to par after drinking Jub coffee the past 5 months) the subpar coffee as I read.
AND THEN THE LIGHT APPEARED and Carley opens my door holding the yellow cup, "uh your Postmates guy has been BANGING on the door." My jaw drops and I explain how I didn't think the order went through. I looked to the right at my French Press and then to the left at the mediocre big ol cup of humble. I drop (placed, I placed) my mug down and reached my hand for the yellow cup of liquid gold--I mean espresso. Still with the bitter, slightly watery french press coffee taste in my mouth, I take a sip of my Americano made by the very talented barista friends of mine and I LOL. Because I mean I know by default, anything in the yellow cup is GOOD, but it's even better when up against my horrid taste of, "I'll try next time" french press coffee.
You know..it's not impossible. I COULD make a cup each morning that's as good as what's in the yellow cup. I've got all the tools, all the how-to notes, and correct ratios. I overthink it. I assume the default position of: this isn't going to taste good..why try. And I always rely on somebody else to make it for me.
Sometimes I think I do the same thing when walking with Jesus. I overthink everything. I'm an internal processor and sometimes that internal processor in me becomes a breeding place for lies to run rampant and lies to trample over the truth that I know to my core.
I've read the blogs, I've gotten the books, my eyes read the truth every single morning, I have some of the most Christ like people around me to watch and to learn from, I know the techniques, the best practices, the podcasts, the sermons.....and yet still sometimes when my day ends I feel like I chose to drink from a mug of incorrectly made coffee when the yellow cup was right in front of me all along. I chose my flesh over the Spirit, the lies over the truth, the slavery of my mind over the freedom.
But, then there are days that come to an end that feel like I've been drinking from the yellow cup all day long. Days where I kept my eyes and mind fixed on the truth, where I chose to live by the Spirit and not my failing flesh, where I didn't reach to put on the mask, where I lived as I was created to be, where I received the freedom that was right in front of me, and where I didn't overthink or believe the lies.
I want more of the yellow cup days. The days where I am being who I was created to be, drinking deeply of the grace and goodness of Jesus. Days with the mask off, where I am fully seen and fully heard. Days where I don't worry so much about the techniques, ratios, how others do it...and days where I simply receive the gift that's been delivered and placed right in front of me.
