Tea and Comfort

3/3/09 Teatime
Afternoon tea with friends----there’s nothing quite like it. I have been served by waiters in black vests at a “Victorian tea” at the Empress in Victoria, BC, had tea at Tea and Sympathy in Greenwich Village (served with bangers and mash), attended a bridal tea for Day at Serendipity in Bartlett though the Serendipity 3 in NYC is still on my bucket list----I’ll take my pot of English Teatime with a $22 outrageous banana split. Larry wants the frozen hot chocolate. I have had a “spot of tea” at the Greenbrier, high tea at Crown City Tea Parlor just around the corner from Hotel Del where I had morning tea, and “knock the chill off” tea at both The Beehive in Salt Lake City and le lapin boulè in Quebec with my amigas. Every summer when I travel with my T-Cup friends we always schedule a special tea whether we’re in AR, KY, GA, LA, MO, MS or TN. I have even celebrated a friend's 50th with tea at the Ritz in London, seated beside the famous nymph fountain in the spectacular Palm Court. Pots of tea and crustless finger sandwiches were served on blue and white china followed by scones and clotted cream (which I could eat my weight in) and those scrumptious pastries………….oh my!
I have had morning tea by candlelight at the Empress of Little Rock and this morning I had tea on the window seat between the bookcases that house my travel books, autographed books and my computer. I didn’t have it in a Wedgewood tea cup, though I could have done that. I chose my own blue and white tea cup, special to me because of the memory of running through the rain in Cambridge to a tea shoppe where I purchased said cup after having a steaming cuppa with Larry and dear friends. I didn’t have this morning’s repast with a scone, though I could have----I had it with a piece of delicious pound cake, made by the hands of a loving friend----if clotted cream had been available, I would have slathered it in that. There was no waiter, no ceremony, no server dressed in morning coat (cutaway in American English) or frilly apron----just a kind hubby who had my cuppa sitting on the kitchen counter ready for me to take upstairs to my “nest.”
Though, as you can tell from all the aforementioned ramblings, I find it pure joy to share a cup of tea with those whom I love the most. I also find great comfort in tea times with friends---there’s a great intimacy and acceptance that comes with sharing a “cuppa.” That’s why this morning I’m sharing it with my best friend----just me with Him in quietness.

Isaiah 30: 15 In quietness and trust is your strength.
I cherish the time I have had these past few weeks in fellowship with the Lord---and it’s usually with a cup of tea in hand. As I look to Him, joyfully expectant of His presence, Jesus meets me there---even if it’s on a book strewn window seat. My prayer is that these peaceful moments of listening to Him will spill over into the lives of those whose paths I cross---whether on Longreen, in cyberspace, or “soon to be” in Dallas---our world desperately needs His love.