We live much of life amid unique choices. Joy is anchored in The One beyond our life. |
“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord. . . .” ― Charles Spurgeon “Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” ― C. H. Spurgeon “Hope itself is like a star- not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” ― Charles Haddon Spurgeon “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” ― Charles Spurgeon “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” ― Charles Spurgeon “When your will is God's will, you will have your will.” ― Charles Spurgeon https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2876959.Charles_Haddon_Spurgeon (Philippians 2:13, KJV) |
Awake, but barely so I drifted upright like the closing of a Murphy bed on the park bench, that had been my cot for the night. I staggered over the ridge to find my favorite bush, but it was not there. What I found staggered me. There were groves and groves of coffee trees, ripe with bright red cherries, ready to fall to the ground. I had never seen anything like this on Earth. Caffeine-headache and all, I shook myself, "This isn't Earth!" Noticing a squatty little building, (not even a full story high,) about a hundred yards away, I trudged in its direction, hoping to locate something to eat. Not much to see on that side, I thought. It's just a coffee brown wall. Fighting my cranial throbbing, I plodded on, and turned the corner. There in five-inch letters was a sign in cream-color on that same coffee brown background. "Joe's Outpost." Maybe, Joe can help me to get something to eat. I wasn't wrong. Finally inside, past the little hand-scrawled note, "Watch your head, or it'll be a nasty tumble down a flight of steps." Gingerly down the steps, I made my way to the bar. "Are you, Joe?" "Yup. What'll you have?" "First, where am I?" "You're on Coffee Cherry Moon. I see you finally woke up." "Have I been here before?" "Just last night. You missed my note to watch your head." "Must be why it's throbbing so much this morning." "You were out like a light." "How did I get to the bench in the park?" "Stirring Stick carried you." "Stirring Stick?" "My 6'5" bouncer. Thought the fresh air would do you good." "I guess. Can I get something to eat?" "What'll you have?" "That big muffin with the chocolate chips." "Anything else?" "A Venti coffee with a lot of Half & Half. Ow, my head." "You did bump your noggin', but I'm sure you got a caffeine hang-over, too." No sooner had I taken a big ol' bite of that luscious muffin, washing it down with the best coffee I had ever tasted, then my alarm rang. It was time to get up for work. Boy, do I ever need coffee, I thought, pin-balling down the hallway. by Jay O’Toole on August 9th, 2021 |