I am drinking from my saucer, because my cup overflowed

My Cup Overflows

The first thought that comes to mind upon reading the title is a quote from the 23rd Psalm, which goes:

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head
with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days
of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

For Jews and Christians alike this is a favorite psalm. It is also one of the most well known among the general population.

• It speaks to the human need and desire for daily sustenance.
• It reveals the God who goes beyond daily need to lavish on His people abundant blessings.
• It addresses our deepest longing is for the place of peace and rest.
• It speaks to our greatest desire for protection and belonging.
• It is a reminder in the day-to-day grind of simple existence, we more accustom to the “valley of the shadow” than the “house of the Lord.
• In our relationship with Yahweh, we have our answer to these needs.
  
  

While ones first thought may be of this well-known psalm, I have a different experience. I would like to share some of my thoughts with you. I heard a poem this past weekend at the funeral of 99-year-old Jess Wilson. It was an appropriate an accurate image of him. However, for me it conjured up memories from what I thought was a long forgotten past. The line from the unknown author goes, “I am drinking from my saucer, because my cup overflowed.” I can relate in a very personal way to this image. I recall examples from my youth where my grandparents, aunts and uncles would pour their coffee mixed with cream and sugar into a saucer. This is often how ordinary country people of Jess’s generation drank their coffee.

The proper etiquette in these matters is to hold the saucer in both hands with the edge of the saucer held firmly between thumb and first finger. One would caress it as the steam slowly rises from the beige concoction. They would blow short gentle breaths upon the mixture. This would serve two purposes; first was to cool this sorcerer’s brew. The second was to draw out the experience to prolong the anticipation of the sweet reward of drinking the nectar of the gods. After what seemed to be an eternity they and sip audibly from the saucer’s contents. This ritual may seem like a quant custom to some. However, I am told that in many cultures this is more than acceptable behavior it is normal. Emigrants brought this custom to the new world and passed it down to each new generation. I fear we will lose this wonderful and poetic practice with the passing of the “greatest generation.”

One can only wonder what the reaction might be at the local Starbucks. A slightly more than middle-aged man enters and proceeded to pour his Quad Venta Latte into a saucer (that is if they have saucers), and he began blow, and slurp until his hearts content. One can only imagine the stares, the frowns and looks of indignation that such a sophisticated coffeehouse crowd would cast his way. With such barbaric behavior, one would soon become persona non-gratta at every vender of fine coffees in the world.
I cannot say that I care you see, “I am drinking from my saucer, because my cup overflowed.”

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green
pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in
path if righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod
and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence
of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness
and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house
of the Lord forever.”

• It is a glorious blessing to be a sheep in the pasture of the Great and Good Shepherd.
• The Lord God of Israel blesses his children with an abundance of his mercy and grace.
• Such grace is beyond human comprehension and far surpasses what we deserve.
• God pours our cup to overflowing.
• In the kingdom of God, we are all, “drinking from our saucers, because our cups overflowed.”
  
  

Thank you Lord.

Just a few things to think about on the way.

Bob