Can Tea Transform Us?

Debbie and I discovered Netflix (OK, we are not early adopters). It is amazing to have at the touch of a button an ability to stream a movie from the “cloud” to your living Room. More importantly you have a real choice. We have been great fans of James Herriot of All Creatures Great and Small fame. Years ago we saw some of the video series on TV. We are now streaming them right to our living room. We also were great fans of some of the classics of Master Piece Theater. One of my favorites was To Serve Them ALL My Days by R.F. Delderfield. We also had an opportunity to live in England years ago for nearly a year. While there we developed a family habit of Tea time. For years we would gather in the afternoon for brewed tea in our little China tea pot from England. I think the shows I am watching are beginning to change my taste. Suddenly, after watching these wonderful British stories I find myself longing for a “cup of tea”. In fact my whole body seems more inclined towards “all things British.” OK, maybe tea has not changed me, but watching and remembering has given me a desire for tea. And who knows, maybe tea will make me more of a gentleman with that English reserve and manners….or not.

If you are really into the symbiotic effect of mind/body (I see tea, I have enjoyed tea, now I drink coffee, but maybe should drink more tea) then you will love to read the following article: Click Here. The article addresses the close connection between what we think and what we do by using the Six Stages of Change (Click Here for Summary of Six Stages). Of course transformation is all about change. What these articles do is give us a surface understanding of change. It was only in the past decade that scientists have been able to go deeper into the unconscious level (heart) through MRi and fMri. Mapping the unconscious and studying the effect it has on behavior is a growing field of research and study. The heart (unconscious) is difficult to examine from our conscious mind. It is revealed through our behaviors and imagination. You cannot ask your heart what it believes, there is no cognitive way to discuss it and let you know. It does communicate through emotions and feelings, often expressing itself with the little nudges here and there that can be good or bad based on what it in the heart. Your heart will find its way to the surface by what you do and think.

The amazing discovery is that you cannot simply change what you think and expect that your heart and habits have changed. It does not work that way. The heart (unconscious) is trained, not taught. It is far more similar to athletes training their muscles, than scholars teaching materials. Athelets do not become athelets by studying alone, they must practice and practice. You must have the right materials to input, but they will not change behavior unless they become part of your heart. That is done on two levels: by God’s Holy Spirit and by personal choice. The two cannot be separated. We must choose to be changed and must choose to put God’s word at the service of the Holy Spirit in our lives, practice. There is a work of Grace that follows a commitment to hear and do. God tells Ezekiel (3:1) “Son of man, eat what I am giving you—eat this scroll! Then go and give its message to the people of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll.” Like Ezekiel we cannot be effective until we take into our very being God’s word. It is the foundation for everything else. But it is not enough. This may sound odd to say, but simply studying the Bible will not change you. It is the beginning, not the end all. In verse 10 of Chapter 3 God gives Eziekiel the second part that is just a critical as taking it in, “10 Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. “

Studying the Word of God, feasting on its message is critical. But it is only as the Holy Spirit empowers it to take root in our heart at our invitation will it result in change in behavior.

There is a mighty link between mind, body and heart. We become what we do. And we do what we believe….in our heart. Our heart is the great nudger in our lives. Sometimes it does not nudge but outright shoves. But it is what we have placed in our heart by the power of the Holy Spirit that transforms us in word and deed to become more like Jesus.

I am feeling thirsty (body action) but I am inclined towards tea (James Herriot always had tea). My heart tells me I would feel “better” with tea. Think I will go get a cupa tea. Phil