Early in our marriage, my Chris took me to a very nice restaurant called Oxford Street. I was not yet the coffee drinker that I am today. Hot tea was my drink of choice.
We arrived at our table and I asked my Chris to order some hot tea for me, while I stopped into the restroom. I came back and saw my tea had arrived, steaming and hot, just the way I like it. The dark, brown cup reminded me of some bowls in which my grandmother had used to serve French onion soup.
The restaurant was dark and reminded me of an English pub with old books and antiques on display around the walls. Did you know I love old books? I sipped my tea and thought of how I’d love to visit England one day.
Chris asked, “How’s your tea?”
“Fine,” I answered. Really I don’t know that I had tasted it much. I took another sip.
“So your tea is just right?” he asked again.
This time I knew. He had set something up, the scamp. I looked curiously at him and asked in an uncertain tone, “Whhhyyy?”
He chuckled and held up the unopened tea bag–all self-satisfied.
So I was drinking hot water. It tasted like tea. In the dark cup, it looked like tea. But it was NOT TEA! It was hot water. And I was a fool.
It still makes my Chris laugh to think about the scene.
So today I just have a short and sweet point to make, besides the fact that I am not as observant, as I would like to say I am.
What truth are you buying today that is not truth? What lie have you bought into that has cast a shadow of fear over your life? What water are you drinking and believing that it is somehow going to turn your life around, when really, it’s not the “Living Water” that Christ gives to you, only hot water in a dark cup?
For I will tell you that we can be easily deceived. We become steeped in something called “truth” that is not Truth at all.
Another quick thought? We can become saturated with or subject thoroughly to some strong or pervading influence (from Merriam-Webster) and we begin to taste like the stuff in which we are soaking—bitterness, bile, anger, greed, and the like.
If we were handed a hot cup of what we are steeping in, would we drink it?
Just thoughts on a regular day, where my tea is steeped in hot water for 3 minutes and sweetened a bit with honey. Would you like some? I promise not to trick you.
Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.Matthew 6:33 The Message
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Holly, I love the story and the question you pose. {I’m not observant either…and it can be hilarious, embarrassing, and even dangerous, AMEN?!}
My grandmother had a set of those dishes too. Very thought provoking question….what am I steeped in? I’ll have to think on that one.
Loved this post. Great question that you posed…what am I steeped in? Great food for thought. Blessings.