CUP OF COFFEE
It might be considered the Sabbath to some, but regardless of the day, the newly repaired coffee maker doesn’t get the day off. The only time it’s gotten a day off in the last ten plus years is when it breaks down.
As the coffeemaker ground the beans for another cup I was feeling relieved. It’s not too many mornings that I get to have coffee at home, or in an open top ceramic cup. It’s usually in a metal screw top cup with the flap on top the slides open to allow you to sip coffee while driving the beat up Phoenix streets and not end up with half the cup of hot coffee in your lap.
I’m sipping that coffee with the perfect dose of half and half mixed in while I type. It’s been awhile since I’ve written, much less read, anything. When I get busy, which happens a lot, I recall some other times in my life that I’ve been busy. I think about “Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy” phrases from childhood.
I also have the “ox in the ditch” words from Jesus in Luke floating around my head. It’s amazing how most of us are prone first to justify or blame someone else for our circumstances. We come by it honestly. Adam blamed the “woman” and then God Himself. After the massive fail he was trying to blame everyone involved… except himself.
There was one particular summer, an extra hot one, I worked over a hundred and twenty days in a row. I took advantage of the long days of summer to work fifteen hours a day in the punishing sunlight framing houses, lots of them. I’ve never been a “40 hour a week” guy.
I have another appointment with the skin doctor in a couple of weeks. This time the spot flaring up that will have to be burned, actually frozen to the point of blistering, is on the back of my left tricep. Beats having it on my nose again.
Whatever I may have gained back then is gone like the dinosaurs. I’m still struggling with the whole “work smarter not harder” thing. And if I was younger, I might try to blame someone else. It was my parents that moved us to the “devil’s bedroom” after all.
But it’s on me. The skin issues, the “wearing yourself out trying to get rich” issues. The workaholic issues, they’re all mine.
Maybe the coffee maker breaking down is a sign? We’re appointed to take time for rest, to recharge. It’s good to get God given rest… instead of going without a day off, like that coffee maker, and breaking down. We all get down time… one way or the other.
I appreciate a day of rest. It’s a gift from God, literally. I’ll talk to Him today, read His Word… and have another cup of coffee. This one’s gone now.
Sunday, January 26, 2020 @ 6:36 pm
Enjoy your day of rest! Coffee is always a good thing. Maybe someday I can make it out to Phoenix and tag along.
Sunday, January 26, 2020 @ 7:26 pm
You should always take a day for yourself and for the family. What is the point of working hard if you cannot reap the benefits of your rewards?
Sunday, January 26, 2020 @ 7:29 pm
It is good to take the time to rest… after all, God himself chose to rest.
Too much work can wear one down… either in the form of a broken down coffee maker or sickness…
Will keep you in my prayers in regards to the skin damage… Praying it is taken care of.
Monday, January 27, 2020 @ 4:05 am
It is good to have you back my friend! But sometimes a Sabbath is in order…for all things. One i won’t suggest to you taking time off from coffee. NEVER say that to a coffee person. LOL I don’t drink the stuff so I can act “holier-than-thou.” Anyway, isn’t it interesting how on spot hindsight is? Don’t you wish you could tell your younger self not to work so hard, so long and so uninterrupted? Glad you had a day of rest and ease. I’ll be praying for you about that spot. Glad you aren’t messing around with it.
Monday, January 27, 2020 @ 1:47 pm
Wondered what was keeping you from posting. Praying those spot, just age spot. I gots Tom of on my face and arms, along with the freckles. Thank God the few the have taken off were just that, age spots. Watching a big one on my arm right now . raising a little. Ace has more then I do, always worked outside, the doctor keeps says no don’t worry about them. So I do the worrying, someone has to. Hardest thing to break is being a workaholic. Work is my husband hobby, he like to stay busy. Our son is that way too but he is learning earlier then his Dad did that taking a break helps those who live with him too. In the ministry we have now there is more time to rest. Actually we are heading your way as I type this. Got several missionaries to visit in Arizona. Staying with my brother in Phoneix
Will be traveling all over to meet up with 4 couples. Sounds like you pretty busy so maybe next time we are there we can meet for coffee. Blessings. You
Friday, January 31, 2020 @ 11:46 am
Hope you enjoyed that cup of coffee, Floyd. It’s hard to slow down when there are so many things that you need and/or want to do. If we don’t keep up the pace, we can’t squeeze in everything. I’m in a season of trying to figure out what to let go so I can slow my pace down too. But I haven’t figured it out yet. It’s more of a mental thing with me; a more extroverted person might think my pace is already slow. 🙂 Nonetheless, I’m glad God is one who is watching our pace and giving us nudges to speed up or slow down as necessary. Keep listening.