Over The Top

…then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:10

It was one of those mornings!  The kind where the minutes evaporate and the tasks multiply!  I was rushing and trying to do some things two handed in the kitchen.  I was pouring coffee with my right hand and rinsing dishes in the sink with my left.  I guess I was focusing too hard on my left hand and didn’t  notice my coffee pouring right hand was working overtime.  Before I realized what had happened I literally had a “hot mess” on my hands which led to some mopping and re-brewing that weren’t in the morning plan.  It seems that even when the coffee mug reached it’s maximum capacity, I kept pouring…and pouring…and pouring.  The hot deliciousness from my coffee pot silently cascaded over the rim of the mug all over the counter and down the cabinet onto the kitchen floor.  Just a word of warning; don’t try to wipe up freshly brewed hot coffee with  paper towel until it’s had a wee bit of time to cool off.  I’m not sure I remember what had me so distracted that morning but I sure can tell you what happened after the mess was cleaned up.

After brewing more coffee, I took my mug to the prayer chair and just took a few peaceful breaths before I cracked open one of my daily prayer books.  I opened to the days page and I was astounded at the story that greeted me.  Two things before I share the story; yes, I nearly spit out my sip of fresh delicious coffee as I started to read and yes, I realize you just can’t make this stuff up!  Here’s what I read.  There was a university professor who went searching for the meaning of life.  After several years and several miles, he came to the hut of a particularly holy hermit and asked to be enlightened.  The holy man invited the visitor into his humble dwelling and began to serve him tea.  He filled the professor’s cup and then kept on pouring so that the tea was soon dripping onto the floor.  The professor watched until he could no longer restrain himself.  “Stop! It’s full. No more will go in.” “Like this cup”, said the hermit, “you are full of your own opinions, preconceptions, and ideas.  How can I teach you unless you first empty your cup?”  Thank you Fr. Wharton for peeking into my day and smacking me upside the head!

I’ve spent the last several days pondering what ’s in my cup.  I’ve come to the conclusion that my cup is full of good stuff but it’s stuff I put there.  I’m really  good at filling my cup with things I think God would like but I have to pray and ponder a bit to make sure they really are the things he wants in my cup.  I guess the only way to be sure is to dump out the cup and start over.  I have to figure out how to empty myself and let him do the filling.  It doesn’t really matter how I want to serve him, what matters is that I serve him the way he wants me too.  I have never heard the  “voice” of God; you know like a Morgan Freeman kind of voice but I sure know he’s sending a message and last week he sent it with the delicious smell of coffee.  I know one thing for certain; God went to great lengths to get my attention so I think I’ll give this more thought and prayer and let you know what I come up with.  

A Seed To Plant:  What’s filling your cup?  Is there room for Him?​

Blessings on your day!