Clean-up at the Coffee Station (09/24/2024)

I like most modern conveniences until I don’t. Take my coffee maker, for instance. I like the fact that I can prepare the coffee maker the night before, and with a timer, it will turn on minutes before I rise so that I can have coffee as soon as I get to the kitchen. But this morning, I and my coffee maker were at odds. For some reason, the liner collapsed in the coffee basket, and grounds filled my coffee. It was a mess. Sometimes, things go amiss.

And so, I spent roughly 20 minutes this morning straining the grounds out of my pot of coffee and washing the coffee basket. I wasn’t pleased with the need to do this. I wish I understood why it happens. But I’m not going to throw away good coffee or a good coffee maker. At times, there’s clean-up to do.

Imagine with me what our world would be like if we took the time to work with our sisters and brothers when things go amiss with them? Imagine how we could be different if we were willing to spend time helping them to put things right, helping them to return to their good and grace-filled nature. Imagine how different our world would and could be if we refused to discard or write off the good because of a bad incident.  

I realize that not all individuals want to cooperate with the LORD’s grace. I realize that not all individuals are open to change or to returning to the purpose for which we are here – Love of our LORD and love for one another. But many are, they just don’t believe they can or that they need to turn and return. And then there’s us. Sometimes the loss of another’s presence is as much our fault as theirs. Sometimes it’s our upset that creates the distance, the break in the relationship.

When it is the latter, when it is our upset, our feelings, our anger, there is a lot that we can do, if we choose to do so. What is our role in bringing about the unity the LORD desire among His diverse daughters and sons?

As I was cleaning my coffee station this morning, this all occurred to me. I spent most of the time using my hands to restore my coffee maker’s good relationship with me and at the same time, with my mind and heart, praying to the LORD for the courage and will to restore the relationships with others that are strained at this time. I’m not sure how I will do the latter, but I prayed for direction.

As we journey, let us do what we can whenever we can to help others be the ones they are created to be, to be in right-relationship with the LORD and with us. Let us work ourselves to maintain those relationships, recognizing that at times there will be “clean-up” necessary. But let us be willing to put in the work and the love necessary. And let us recognize that at times the necessary clean-up is because of our own words or actions, and let us be ready and willing to seek forgiveness and mercy.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.