English Toffee Cappuccino

I made it through all of Bible college (or at least my version of "all of Bible college") without becoming addicted to coffee. I'm a coffee wuss. I know it's not a genetic malfunction. My parents' view point on coffee is more akin to that of a trucker: the darker and thicker the better. Kind of like the motor oil of my 1988 Chevy Cavalier. No sugar. No Equal. No creamer. Not even milk. Just coffee. I, on the other hand, like my coffee like I like my men: kind of beige-y in color and really sweet, with a hint of hazelnut (collectively now, awww... That one was for you, Trevor. Except the hazelnut part. I don't think that would translate well).

Okay, so I'm exaggerating when I talk about my parents' love of strong coffee. Actually, the last time my parents visited me, I tried to be the perfect hostess and make my parents a nice cup of joe. I had to go to the store and buy a coffeemaker because I did not own one. And filters. Can't forget filters. Those suckers run like, $4.97 nowadays. So I was doing something nice, but the way they responded you'd think I tried to poison them. (The moment happened just like a sitcom where someone blurts out something like "I'm pregnant with your child." or "I'm leaving you for your brother" or "That's not juice, it's a urine sample." And the philandering-yet-lovable protagonist of the show spews the beverage out of his mouth in utter surprise/shock/horror.) I'm pretty sure I put the right amount in according to the package instructions, but Mom had to add about 3/4 cup of water to drink it. Either my parents have gone soft, Maxwell House had a misprint, or tablespoons have gotten larger recently. Whatever the cause of the incident (I refer to it as "coffeegate") which did not involve error on my part whatsoever, the coffee was awful.

I'll tell you a place to get good coffee. Tim Horton's. It took me a while to get bitten by the Tim Horton's Bug. What is this place all about? Why is there no apostrophe in the restaurant name? Canadians. I know Tim Horton was a real person. And I know "Tim Horton's" is his coffee place, so why not the apostrophe? I shall use one anyway to stand up for grammar. I mean, people throw apostrophes around like they're free money nowadays. They use them in all situations that do not warrant the use of an apostrophe. Yet when an apostrophe is needed, it's mysteriously MIA. Making a word plural? No apostrophe. Making a word possessive? Apostrophe. Except in the case of it. Which is strange, but reasonable.

Tim Horton's has pretty good coffee. Not that I get the coffee. I get the English Toffee Cappuccino. I know. All they do is push a button on a cappuccino dispenser like they have at gas stations. But it's sweet, beige, and tastes good.

My main concern with buying hot beverages from Timmy's (cute and annoying at the same time!) is the wait period before I can drink it. My coffee wussery surpasses the flavor and sweetness of said beverage. I am also sensitive to the temperature. There is a small window (from 22 minutes to 26 minutes after purchase) that I must down my coffee in. (I know; I just went on about grammar and now I'm ending a sentence in a preposition. Would you rather I say "in which I must down my coffee?" I sound either snooty or British. Or both. Hmm.)

See, for me timing is everything when it comes to Timmy Ho's. If I drink too early, I burn my poor little defenseless tongue. If I drink it too late, I might as well have ordered an ice capp. I had a Tim Horton's beverage today and I pondered this phenomenon. (I like referring to my weaknesses as phenomena. Very empowering.)

I was thinking about how even good things at the wrong time can be bad. Two of the things that tick me off the most are stubbed toes and burnt tongues. Drink the coffee too early, you get a burnt tongue. Now when your coffee has cooled off a bit, it's still going to be painful to drink.

I've got a few friends who are going through a period of pain and waiting in their lives right now. I hate it. I find that if I don't be careful I become consumed with their suffering. I hate that I can't fix their problem. While I don't blame God, I get curious as to when exactly He's going to pull through for them.

Some of them are separated from people they love. A wall of bureaucratic red tape has been erected between husband and wife, fathers and daughters. I see people I love working with everything they have serving the Lord, yet they never catch a break. They're on the brink of giving up if something doesn't change soon. My heart breaks. My soul feels weary.

Then I remember the coffee. I think of my life. My darkest days when I wondered exactly what God was orchestrating in the mess around me. He had something good for me planned. He still does.

For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

But it had to be the right timing. If He gave it to me too soon, I would have gotten burned.

There's purpose in waiting. There's promise in waiting.

But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!
Isaiah 64:4

So if you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you.
1 Peter 4:19

One version of the last verse says to "commit yourselves to a faithful creator." He will never fail you. He loves you too much to let you down.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible promises us this:

In his kindness God called you to his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. After you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
1 Peter 5:10

The suffering doesn't last forever. God promises after you have suffered a while, He will bring you restoration. He will bring you support. He will give you strength. Your foundation and faith in Him will be stronger because of your adversity.

Take heart. Be encouraged. Cast your cares on Him, because He cares for You. Wait on Him.