Did you know good teas are very similar to good wines?

By this I mean they can be expensive (wouldn’t you know I’d start there), their flavor is influenced by the pH of the soil their plants grow in, different times of collection and aging affect the flavor, and the variations are nearly endless.

If you are someone who delights in the unique flavors of different wines, I’d encourage you to find a teacupping (I believe it’s called) in your area, to introduce your pallet to some fascinating flavors.

I have friend who recently began a small-business selling tea and bought a bit to support her.

I love it.

It occurred to me that the idea of drinking tea to lose weight (I’m not even going to go into this further) has a true element, if this evening’s experience holds true: it doesn’t need to be a chemical zap or a magic pill.  It simply is, and the result is a decreased desire to eat.

While drinking my oolong, I noticed that the the warmth gave me a sense of being full, and the vague, almost sweet aftertaste of the oolong itself (I don’t put anything in my tea) left my palate satisfied.

Here is essentially nothing nutritious (in a sustaining sense), lulling my body into a place of contentment and satiety.

It made me think (wouldn’t you know…) about the Holy Spirit, and the idea of feeding on the Word.

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Our gentle God does not (usually) alter the course of His created order, or make us change with a zap. He is gracious and patient with us, never changing. He simply is. And affects us by His nature.

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There is no physiological reason to find filled-ness (or refreshing, or joy), in a book, but something in the way God created us provides just that.

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Just now I am simply thankful for the warm parable in my cup: a bit of soggy-leaf juice, offering warmth, relaxation and satiety.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

James 1:17