conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

blending is nice

A science which does not bring us nearer to God is worthless.

-Simone Weil (1909-1943)

Over the last several days I have been enjoying a bag of Sumatra coffee beans. They are almost sweet, and have this robust finish too them. They are not bitter, but nutty. I really like them. So, a couple of days ago I went to my current favorite coffee monger and spoke to him about the bean and what might make a good blend. He said that he loves to blend the Sumatra coffee bean with your basic Columbian. "Tastes like chocolate cake!" he said. We spoke a little longer about African beans as well. I love the African beans. So, yesterday I thought that I would swing by and get a bag of the Ethiopian Harrar. It's a great "Get yer butt movin' in the mornin'" bean. When I awoke this morning it occurred to me to blend the Sumatra with the Ethiopian. What the heck!

Well, my friends in coffeeland, this is a rich, rich blend. Both beans are nutty, so there is this almost woodsy back end. The sweetness of the Sumatra is there as a hint, but when combined with the Ethiopian it tastes like a dark, dark chocolate. I added just a little cream to my mug this morning. I am a happy camper. Sometimes blending is nice.

Yesterday, I had a meeting downtown at the Archdiocese. I am the ABC-Metro rep to the "Ecumenical Millennium Committee." This committee is the newly named Christian unity group here. You know, the National Council of Churches etc. Yeah. That stuff. The National Workshop for Christian Unity will be held here in the Chicagoland area in April of '08. I serve on the subcommittee that is planning four local workshops. The national level folk plan several workshops. Added to those each year are four local workshops. It's been fun getting to know these people.

One of the people on the committee is a nun who works at the Archdiocese. We spoke about a million and one things yesterday including avowed religious life. She informed me that there is also an ecumenical effort here in Chicago to bring the various groups together as well. Yes, there are myriad Protestant religious communities, some avowed, some more like communes, in the Chicago area. She is trying to get these groups to come together to support one another. She remarked how interesting it is that the there is a growth in Protestant organizations while at the same time the Catholic orders are struggling so greatly. She said that coming together would likely yield fruit for all. Sometimes blending is nice.

I spoke to her about living in community in Richmond and the Community of the Holy Trinity (an inactive blog, but the info is good.) that Larry serves as abbot. She asked me if I considered myself a religious. I said I would like to...but it's been difficult (see: prayer post yesterday). She smiled and said that I should come to the meetings anyway. I asked if I could bring friends. "Absolutely!" Larry already knows. Jorge? What do you think? Sometimes blending is nice.

Posted by tripp at August 17, 2007 06:27 AM