POURING COFFEE

Why is it that the simple act of pouring oneself a cup of coffee provides an immediate sense of calm, comfort, and a sense (however fleeting) that all is right with the world?

The benefits of coffee are spiritual as well as physical.

In terms of spiritual benefits, consuming this beverage at significant points in the day is a cherished tradition in the Western world. At home and at work coffee serves as our trusted friend. At home we drink coffee at quiet times, perhaps to accompany casual reading. At work it is a companion that accompanies our labors. Away from work, we gather with friends over coffee for a leisurely visit. In restaurants it is an act that signifies the formal part of the meal is over and diners may now relax for an indefinite time in the company of their companions. It also offers a point of entry into fellowship: "Let's have a cup of coffee sometime" provides a less cumbersome way than meeting for lunch or dinner to forge new relationships or renew old ones.

In terms of coffee's physical benefits, it reportedly reduces the chances of getting Type 2 diabetes, protects the liver from damage by excessive alcohol, and encourages the body to break down fat and boosts the metabolic rate. Testimony to this effect keeps coming around; just a month ago Slate ran a story about a 17th-century newspaper article documenting many of coffee's positive attributes. Naturally, coffee can have negative health consequences if consumed to excess, from loss of sleep to irritating the stomach to triggering or exacerbating irregular heart rhythms.

I am not on a crusade to promote coffee. Certainly many people achieve these same spiritual benefits by drinking other beverages, or perhaps none at all. I just wonder why coffee, both regular and decaf, is able to provide a peace of mind that is often otherwise lacking. Is this perhaps a hint, however distant, of the peace which the world cannot give that Jesus promises to us in John 14:27? As the NRSV has it:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.

With a faint sensation of this inner calm in mind, thanks to our trusty beverage, let us explore the deeper nature of the peace Jesus is telling us about. In this way John 14 is a gold mine. Read this relatively short chapter slowly and allow images inspired by the Holy Spirit to form in your heart. Then when those of us who typically close our letters and electronic communications with "Peace,...." we may actually be speaking with authority.

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