There is a lot of good about my day job. I work in the medical field and the equipment I am able to use is new and works great. The building I work in is beautiful and clean. The people I work with are compassionate and committed to giving our patients the best care. So much good, but…. the coffee is terrible.
Petty complaint? Definitely, which is why I don’t complain about it. I love coffee and there aren’t many varieties that I just won’t drink. And over the years, I’ve gotten used to the flavorless, hot, brown water. I’ve never CRAVED it, but when I’m needing a caffeine kick, it will suffice.
I had almost forgotten how truly bad it is, but today I treated myself. I pulled out some whole bean coffee and my coffee grinder. I ground up some fresh beans and brewed myself a lovely little cup of coffee. It tasted so smooth and delicious. The fresh ground coffee really doesn’t even deserve to be in the same category as the other stuff. It should get its own title. It’s the real deal.
Likewise, there is a lot of good about Christian writers. They are funny. They are relatable. They make me realize that I am not alone. They are easy to read. But they aren’t the real deal.
Sometimes I fool myself into thinking that I’m getting spiritually fed when I am reading thoughts from a Christian writer. Really all I’m getting is an empty snack, tasty but not filling. Sure, they have their place and their role in the world isn’t unimportant, but I simply cannot get from them what only the bible is able to give.
When I slow down and spend time in the word, it’s like that first drink from my freshly ground coffee: I quickly realize what a good thing I have been missing out on. And in a year that has thrown so many curveballs, we need to savor all the good things that we can.
As we prepare to begin a new year, it’s a good opportunity to take a look around and see where we have settled. Let’s not cheat ourselves out of getting the real deal. If we want to supplement our good coffee with some less great coffee sometimes, fine. But let’s not convince ourselves that bad coffee is good. And if we want to supplement our bible reading with some Christian authors, great. But let’s not fool ourselves into believing that’s all we need in order to grow.
Read more of Abbie Mabary’s contributions to allmomdoes here.
