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THE WAY OF GRACE

I love to take pictures of oceans, lakes, and rivers. These scenes remind me of how, in Scripture, water points us to a future overflowing with peace and reconciliation. As God said through Isaiah, “I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground” (Isaiah 44:3). Jesus said, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14).

One particular product of water has taught me much about grace. I’m talking about tea.

During the tumultuous year of 2020, with the pandemic and politics roiling society, my friends Mako, Keiko, and I decided to host a tea ceremony on Instagram Live. Through our little screens, people were able to receive this quiet offering, followed by thoughtful conversation about the difficult moment our world was having.

Before we wrapped up, our tea expert, Keiko, was asked to provide encouragement in this time of crisis. She said, “I only have one word to offer. It is a Japanese word: Kissako. This means, ‘Remember to have some tea.’ ”

I knew what she was hinting at with her simple suggestion.

Kissako invites us into the practice of hospitality, humility, and honor because tea is a way of blessing one another and being blessed in the process. Tea is also an act of peacemaking, an act of quiet defiance and protest in the face of great division. Tea is like communion, where our dismembered relationships become re-membered and are brought back together in unity. Tea is eucharistic, inviting all who receive to be blessed and give thanks.

Tea ceremonies are like the liturgies of my faith that point us to the way of grace by reminding us to clothe ourselves in humility, to serve others with hospitality, and to share peace with the broken world around us.

Kissako. Make yourself a cup of tea, coffee, or another warm drink that brings you comfort. And then ponder these questions:

• In what ways would you like your life to be a response to the world around you?
• What is your “tea” or unique gifting that you can’t help but serve to others?