For the Coffee Lovers Out There...

And I count myself among you, for sure. I received this today from a friend via email. I like it.

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A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with their old university professor. The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite. Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh coffee..

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address the small gathering. "You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones. While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is actually the source of many of your stress-related problems."

He continued. "Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink. What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for the best cups. Then you began eyeing each other's cups."

"Now consider this: Life is coffee.
Jobs, money, and position in society are merely cups.
They are just tools to shape and contain life,
and the type of cup we have does not
truly define nor change the quality of the life we live.
Often, by concentrating only on the cup,
we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us...
God brews the coffee, but he does not supply the cups.
Enjoy your coffee!"


And then a few quotes were tacked on at the end.

*The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have. So please remember: Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

And remember - the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.

It doesn't matter to me what kind of cup I drink from as long as some good conversation comes with it.

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I admit that I spend far too much time thinking and worrying about the cup that holds my life and not nearly enough time sipping it, savoring what is in the cup. Tomorrow morning when I make that first cup, I plan to stop, take in a deep breath, give thanks, and then take that first savory sip.

Here's to coffee, tea, ice water, love, laughter, peace, friends,
and all the other goodies that fill the cups of our lives.
Here's to gratitude.

Happy sipping!



These two coffee shop photos were taken on the morning of the first half of "the coronation." I tell you what: that morning I appreciated the ability to eat, to drink, to enjoy food and drink. The days leading up to that appointment were painful ones. I was hesitant and anxious with every morsel I put into my mouth.

While I don't think I could sell many books based on this formula, I will say this: between the cracked tooth and the invasion of ants, I lost eight pounds that week. I have managed to keep five of those pounds off. I guess there really is a blessing in everything.