by Nathan Decker

“Heaven is a house with porch lights.”
– Ray Bradbury

There is nothing like it in the world. To feel the warmth gently gathering in your palms, to receive the bitter vapors of steam rising, to taste the sweet mixture of sticky honey, water and leaves: a cup of tea in the morning. A simple pleasure that takes a few minutes to prepare, but too often I miss out on it in the rush of the morning. Somehow between getting myself put together, getting the boys off to school, feeding the dogs, letting the dogs out, watering the garden letting the dogs back in — I miss out on what should be a sacred moment.

I woke up today. I was able to sleep deeply with feelings of security and safety.  I got out of bed on my own. When I stood up, I didn’t worry about hunger, pain or if this would be my last day. It takes less than three minutes to boil water. Recently, I’ve started using honey in my tea. It takes no more than 20 seconds to stir the honey into the water. I like to let my tea steep for about two or three minutes. Total time is never more than 10 minutes from preparation to brimming cup. Yet, I don’t take the time.

Our prayer life can equally be so compacted that there is no enjoyment. We can miss out on what should be a sacred moment. It can be so easy to make our devotions, our Bible reading, or our study just one more thing in a hectic life. We run to Starbucks rather than enjoying the moment and taking the time to make a simple cup of tea.

I suggest we take the time to make a simple cup of prayer. While some folks start with telling God thank you, it may be that we have to get our life’s worries into the pot first. It probably takes 3 minutes or so for us to boil our way through our life’s stress, troubles, and issues. I know it takes less than 20 seconds for God’s presence and sweetness to blend into our lives if we take the time to receive him.  Spending two to three minutes to steep in that peace, serenity and sacredness would set us onto the best path.

There is nothing like it in the world. To feel the warmth of the Creator’s embrace surrounding us with love. To receive the comforting vapors of Christ’s rising resurrection. To taste the sweet grace, peace, and love given freely by the Spirit. A simple pleasure that takes a few minutes to prepare, but too often we miss out on in the rush of the day.

“So I perceived that there was nothing better for human beings but to enjoy what they do because that’s what they’re allotted in life. Who, really, is able to see what will happen in the future?”

– Ecclesiastes 3:22

NATHAN DECKER is the pastor of High Street United Methodist Church. Contact him at 562-3367.