How a French Press Coffee Pot Fulfilled the Second Greatest Commandment
It was cold and windy!
It was early December, and the past month had been especially bad for high winds. Over the past week, we had lost power a number of times due to downed trees over power lines. The wind storms just kept coming one after the other!
At first, events like these can be kind of exciting. We pull out the flashlights, and sleeping bags and have a family camp-out in the living room. This game gets old fast when everything you own seems to be run on electricity!
For some, losing power can become a time of retreat.
For example, after the power went out yesterday, a friend of ours posted this comment on social.
“Am very thankful this morning for a gas wood stove, gas range, French press coffee pot, bottled water, smart phone and REI candle lantern…life is good.“
As I looked at his small list of goods in reference to our possessions, I realized that we only had a smartphone and bottled water. Of course, we weren’t in a life-or-death situation; I realize that my comfort is not that big a deal. Nevertheless, if I’m, to be honest, I suddenly felt a wave of jealousy.
Although I’m embarrassed to admit it, I secretly wished that I was him at that moment. I was feeling sorry for myself that we would have to sit in the cold; with no wood stove, no gas range…and no coffee.
I was about to leave a snarky comment.
Just before I posted my comment under his post, about how lucky he was, something amazing happened. There was a knock at our door, which was strange that early the morning. Lo and behold, one of our neighbours (1/4 mile away), was on our doorstep with a fresh pot of French Press coffee!
All of a sudden, I had one more item on our friend’s little list of power outage serenity. The best item I might add! This was a huge blessing; Nicole and I were really missing our morning coffee. We had actually just pulled the camp stove onto the kitchen counter and we were in the process of boiling some water for instant coffee.
Forget the instant; we had a steaming french press!
After having my first sip of this amazing brew, I realized that this one act displayed a key concept that Christ wants us all to embrace. In the Gospel of Mark, there’s an account of Jesus being questioned by a bunch of religious teachers. They tried to trip Jesus up by asking him which of the laws is the most important. Jesus responds with the following.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mk. 12:30-31)
Our neighbour had a gas range, a conventional kettle, ground coffee and most importantly, a French Press. Nicole and I had an electric stove, an electric kettle, coffee beans and an electric grinder and an electric coffee maker.
That day we felt loved.
It may have been a small task for our neighbour, but to others (and to us) it was huge! He walked the 1/4 mile to our house on a dark, cold, windy morning, just to give us his French Press full of fresh brew! This was a perfect example of Mark 12:31.
If you’re reading this, thank you, my friend.
Soon enough, the power came back on and we continued with our day as usual. Let this post serve as two pieces of advice.
- When you go to look for a home in the North, avoid electric appliances.
- Never underestimate the incredible power of pausing and thinking of “your neighbour as yourself“.
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
- When was the last time someone thought of you higher than themselves?
- When was the last time you thought of someone else higher than yourself?
