Coffee with Jesus

There is a comic strip called Coffee with Jesus. I first came across the strip while in seminary and then it mysteriously shows up on my Facebook feed every now and then. The three or four panels generally has a modern-day follower of Jesus asking Jesus for advice in the form of a question. Jesus’ response is always one of those common sense-like answers where we could all say, “Duh!” Below is an example of one strip.

The title of this strip came to me this morning as I reflected on my day thus far. It was an early wake up to meet a postulant for breakfast over coffee. Then back home say Morning Prayer with Stacy over coffee. I realized the common denominator is a cup of coffee. The sharing of oneself over a cup of ground coffee beans. The smell of brewed coffee wafting to my nostrils as I close my eyes and take a deep breath in to center my mind. Coffee, hmmm.

The Daily Office service of Morning Prayer, for me and I cannot speak for Stacy, is becoming that time where I can say, “It’s coffee time with Jesus.” It’s that time that feeds me. It’s a time that I allow myself to lean into the scripture, the prayers, and just be. I can close my eyes and feel the closeness of God.

Now, I’ll admit, and I am thankful, that the Daily Office has always fed me in some manner. It has not always been Morning Prayer though’. Mostly it has been Compline which is said at bedtime and provides comfort and protection for the night. Regardless of the time of the reading of the Daily Office, reading the Daily Office has always made God’s presence more real to me. Maybe it is that fact that for centuries Christians across the globe have said the Daily Office. Today, for me, making the effort to rise early to listen to the podcast and following along in the BCP, is changing me. I am looking forward to this time. I am looking forward to having coffee with Jesus.

When do you have coffee or tea with Jesus?