I asked if he would like a cup of tea.

18Jan

I had two hours alone at home. It was quiet. I could work. Except I couldn’t.

I was distracted.

I decided to stop and talk with God a bit. The thoughts kept running. I kept moving.

So I asked Jesus if he would like a cup of tea. Literally. Out loud.

I went to the stove and turned on the burner under the kettle. I went upstairs to change for my lunch appointment. I thought about inviting Jesus to tea.

I thought about Jesus talking about standing outside a door knocking, willing to come in and eat a bit.

I thought about the hands that picked the tea leaves, on hillsides I’ve never seen, watered by rains I can’t control, in countries I’ll never visit.

I heard the whistle of the kettle. I poured a bit of water into the mug to warm it. It was a mug bought years ago, John Deere, with a family of deer on it. Andrew wanted to be a farmer. That dream is gone, but he and Allie and Hope still have dreams.

I got the teabag out of the jar on the counter, the tea I got from Diane. I thought about her gift and her family.

I added sugar and poured the water in. I thought about my mom who has often prescribed tea for headaches.

I sat in the living room, in the rocking chair where my grandfather sat.

I thought about the tense email conversation I’d had with a friend and the meeting I was going to.

I looked at the color swatches on the sofa and thought about the tension that sometimes comes in decorating.

I tasted the hot sweet tea and my eyes began to fill with tears.

And I knew that I was drinking tea with Jesus.

7 thoughts on “I asked if he would like a cup of tea.”

Rich Dixon
January 18, 2011 at 9:26 am

A stunning and beautiful word picture of an encounter between master and disciple. Relationship, transparency, gut-level reality. No formality, no religious ritual.

An observation–you sometimes write best when you “can’t write” or don’t know what to say. Some of your most touching words come from a place of distraction and emptiness. I wonder of there’s something to learn from that …

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1. Jon Swanson
  January 18, 2011 at 10:09 am
  
  you know, rich, that I don’t like what that teaches me. Except that I know you are right.
  
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Diane Brogan
January 18, 2011 at 9:58 am

Thank you for the beautiful story. As I read, I thought along with you. 300 words can paint a lot of pictures. My Dad was an Inernational tractor mechanic so John Deere was always the rival. Not for me. When I pass the John Deere store, I always want to stop.

I wonder what it would be like to visit the hills where the tea is grown. How fascinating the drying process must be. How does it get from the hills to the packaging plant?

Tea for headaches. I’m going to try some now.

Chris was born in April. The Christmas before, I received a rocking chair from Steve’s parents. Mom said you need a rocking chair when you have a baby – and she was right. Chris is a man now, but we still use the rocking chair.

Thank you for having tea with Jesus 🙂

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1. Jon Swanson
  January 18, 2011 at 11:19 am
  
  thank you Diane for walking through this with me.
  
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Paul Merrill
January 18, 2011 at 5:09 pm

Love this one, Jon.

I know comments are supposed to add value to blog posts – and that simple positive kudos are supposed to be bad comments – but I still love this post.

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Frank Reed
January 19, 2011 at 9:38 am

It’s always amazing to know that the Creator of the universe will do the simplest things with us.

He does this because He does EVERYTHING with us. We only get the true benefit of His presence when we let decide to acknowledge it. Great reminder.

Thanks, Jon.

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Cheryl Smith
January 19, 2011 at 3:08 pm

I”m with Paul.

But also want to say thank you, Jon. Your storytelling warms me. I’ve never thought to ask Jesus for tea or coffee, or even a glass of wine.

I have, however, put on a worship CD, cozied up on the sofa and rested with Jesus. It’s the sweetest, most refreshing nap I’ve ever experienced.

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