Passive Coffee

Why would someone do this? You gotta’ be passionate about something, otherwise, why get involved? Would it be because if you don’t do it, no one will? How many times do we fall into that little trap? I could name quite a few into which I have fallen…but that’s not really necessary. Let’s just list some random examples…shall we?
Steak. Need I say more? Ok, for those of you who have yet to experience the thrilling rush of flavors from a well marbled, well seasoned, well aged steak…here goes. I meet with a good friend and mentor of mine once a week for breakfast. We started with the little things like pancakes, and one week we might eat at a little restaurant in town, one week we might find ourselves eating at a chain…then we thought, why eat out every week? Not only does it become expensive, and the service leaves something to be desired, and you can’t guarantee the plates, cups/glasses, or even the silverware wasn’t cleaned by someone they happened to pickup on the way to work who was never really formally trained by his mom/dad to properly clean the dishes so instead he rinses them off with a little ice water, grabs the nearest rag off the floor left there from last night when an associate vomited all over the floor from food poisoning because he was playing with Chinese toys over his lunch break and somehow ingested the little toy and the lead spread throughout his stomach…and…I digress.
Where was I? Oh, cleanliness, it may not be right next to Godliness, but it has to be in the same ballpark. So, we stopped eating out and started eating at home paying as much for a couple of steaks that we could quite easily season and marinade and grill for the same price we were paying for eggs and toast at the local restaurants. On top of all that, when you go out to eat, and your planning on getting into a nice deep Biblical conversation about life and all its complexities, the last thing you want to deal with is sitting in between a table of loud chatters on one side and vacationers who have been on the road since last Tuesday and their 15 children haven’t slept all night and are just a tad on the irritating side.
If you’re planning on cooking something as delicate and yet as scrumptious as steak, why not do it with passion. You can’t just stick it on a pizza plan. place it in the oven and 15min later have a steakhouse tasting meal…nope! Doesn’t work that way. It requires attention. The same thing with coffee. Too many people plop some freeze dried year old coffee grounds made from dirt and kitty litter into a 50 year old pot and add some tap water that hasn’t been filtered since Moses parted the red sea. You just can’t expect Starbucks to come flowing out of the reservoir when you throw things together like that without a second notice.
Do you remember how much care your Grandma took in baking ginger crinkle cookies, and dutch apple pie, and home smoked honey baked ham? Excuse me one moment…I hear the fridge callin’ my name.
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Ok, I’m back. Now, remember how much time they put into making it right? They didn’t just throw it into a pot and take a nap – no! They put great attention to detail. They did it with passion. They took pride in their work. They made certain that when it came out of the oven the aroma was so powerful that as she turned around there would be your dad attempting to negotiate for the first bite while you stood there with your best puppy dog eyes, begging to lick the spoon, but if she would refuse, you were ready to play the part of Hansel and Grettall and take care of ‘Ol Grandma so there would be no dispute over getting to lick the spoon.
Do you understand where I am going with this? Do what you love (within reason, legally, and biblically sound) And love what you do. Take pride in your work, and let others know that you are proud of the outcome of your project because they can see that you put forth your best effort. “Whatever you do, whether you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God”