He poured himself a cup of coffee. The welcome aroma of the fresh brew enveloped him, his mouth watering.”
–Donald L. Robertson (Stranger with a Star)
Pard, the stage is pullin’ up, an’ we’re nigh ready to be leavin’. If’n yuh don’t make it in the next few minutes, the coffee’s sittin’ on the stove, yuh just need to be heatin’ it up. I left yuh some, didn’t want yuh to go without. Didn’t want yur feelin’s to be hurt all week goin’ without my famous brew. Sorry I’m not around to put the coffee on, I knows yuh like to see me pourin’ a cup for yuh.
I recall ol’ Abe sayin’ once, “If that’s coffee bring me some tea, and if that’s tea bring me some coffee.” No wonder he became president, he knew what a good cup of coffee was. None of that namby-pamby colored water. As for tea, it has its place. I don’t mind a cup now and then, but like one ol’ boy has written, “Tea is also brown and thin, and lacking in character. It goes well with crumpets and doilies. Tea is for lightweights. Coffee is for the earnest, the committed.” If my memory serves me right Ernestine Linck wrote that. Listen, I’ve never heard anyone say that “tea is too strong.” Or that “tea is strong enough to float a horseshoe.” Tea is fine, in its place, but Pard, I’m a-knowin’ that yuh like yur coffee strong, bold, and black in the mornin’.
The missus made up some tortillas, an’ I’m recallin’ my Grandma always pronouncin’ them Tor-till-las (and if’n yuh read my early books about Elias Butler, that’s what he calls them). Some sausage and onions scrambled in with the eggs, and we’re ready to go. Granddaughter’s birthday is this weekend an’ we’re headin’ up to see her in college.
So as yuh head out into the week, don’t be settlin’ for no colored water professin’ to be coffee, nor for any of them cinos that mix in all sorts of silly stuff where’s yuh can’t even taste the coffee. Why not just order fruit juice or a spinach smoothie? In other words, don’t be playin’ with my coffee, an’ I knows yuh feel the same ’bout yurs. Pard, so many in the church are that way ’bout what they’re wantin’ to hear. I think they’ve got themselves a cino-Christianity. Watered-down, flavored, not robust, not the real thing in other words. Don’t be waterin’ down God’s Word, treat it like good and honest coffee–strong for the soul and gizzard.
Stage is ready to be pullin’ out. Yuh have yurself a good week in the Lord. Be ridin’ straight an’ stittin’ tall in the saddle. No cinos, be wary, carry yur Bible and gun so they’re ready to be used, for Pard, even though I didn’t see yuh this mornin’, don’t forget to be a-checkin’ yur cinch. I want yuh around next week to be jawin’ with yuh.
Vaya con Dios.