Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Cup and Saucer (08/28/14)
-
TITLE: Coffee Service | Previous Challenge Entry
By Wayne Newsom
09/04/14 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
I no longer recall the owner’s name, his company name or the town the business was in. I do remember that in time the sales effort was successful and he became a good customer. My most vivid memory, however, is of his office and how coffee was served.
This office was like nothing I had ever seen before. As a 26 or 27 year old, and not yet a believer in Jesus Christ, I was impressed with outward appearances. The place looked classy, not ostentatious but to me it was indicative of success. The furnishings were a classic cherry wood desk with leather top, tufted red leather desk chair, matching credenza with hutch, and in front were two richly upholstered chairs and an oriental rug. To one side of the office was a conference table with four leather swivel chairs. I was offered coffee and gladly accepted it as I was in need of some caffeine.
Had I thought about it I would have likely concluded that Styrofoam coffee cups would not be fitting in such a setting. Subconsciously I was probably expecting coffee in a mug, the kind usually found in a breakroom cabinet. Commonly those types of mugs bear the logo of the company or one of its suppliers. Logo mugs are marketing items for promoting a business to potential clients. The standard office mug fare is a mishmash of sizes and colors, often chipped or stained.
Coffee was served at the conference table. For a moment I lost concentration. Instead of mugs with coasters, the service was on a silver tray with two fine china cups and matching saucers. I wondered, “Where am I, Buckingham Palace”? I reasoned it could not be Buckingham Palace because that was coffee in those cups, not tea! During this brief loss of focus I scrambled to get the cream in my coffee and not lose the momentum of the meeting. I decided to dual task. With one eye on my potential customer and the other looking for the powdered creamer, I continued with my presentation. I struggled. No creamer, powdered or liquid, was to be found. I thought, “Would it be presumptuous to ask for cream”? Then, voilà! Real cream was already there on the tray in the appropriate silver container with coordinating spoons for stirring. None of those little packets of sugar or artificial sweetener were in sight either. Oh no. Fittingly, sugar cubes were in the proper silver bowl with a pair of tongs for picking. I completed my presentation, took my final sip of coffee, said my goodbyes, left his office impressed and in a daze. No “to go” cup was offered.
My view of life and how success is defined changed in 1969 when I surrendered my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Now as a retired business owner myself, I have enjoyed many of the trappings of success. God has shown me, however, that real success is based on a relationship with the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
I now set an alarm before dawn to begin each day with God. “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; …” (Psa. 63:1 NKJV). First I need a bit of caffeine to be fully awake. My favorite coffee cup has Beethoven’s name inscribed on the inside just under the flared lip. A porcelain overglaze of sheet music is on the outside. This cup is a daily reminder that “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God…” (Psa. 40:3 NIV). If only it had a matching saucer to provide some protection from spills and a solid basis of support. “… He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (Psa. 40:2 NIV). Lord, please fill my cup with your Spirit and establish my life on the only sure foundation, Jesus Christ!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Beautiful job.
God bless~