QUARANTINE BLOG # 18

April 17, 2020

As I start writing today’s edition I am drinking my second cup of Green Mountain Breakfast Blend decaf coffee.  Yes, decaf.  Dr. Brett Wallentine, who saved my life twice, told me that another medical condition was made worse by drinking caffeinated beverages, so I switched.

Speaking of switching, some of you are old enough to remember the Tareyton cigarette advertisements.  “I’d rather fight than switch.”

I’d rather quit than die.  A pack a day habit today would cost you $2,332.35 in Georgia ($6.39 a pack), and $4,690.25 in New York ($12.85).

But I digress.  Again.

Coffee.  I have had my morning brew made several ways: percolator (when I lived at 117 Shenandoah Avenue), Mr. Coffee, French press, and Keurig (my current machine – actually a Keurig clone).  This current line of thought started a couple days ago when I ran across an article about coffee and said to myself, “Self, this could be added to your cruise talk ‘Raise a Glass.’”

I know that coffee was likely first cultivated in Ethiopia in the 14th century – I’ll tell you that story tomorrow – and that the ancestor of Starbucks opened in Istanbul in 1554, reaching 600 branches in 40 years (Starbucks has been around since 1971 and has 31,256 stores worldwide). 

But what I learned from the article was the contribution of Melitta Bentz to this most pleasing drink.  Frustrated by grounds in her coffee she invented the paper coffee filter.  The year was 1908, and she would go through a number of tries before blotting paper set her on the right track and gave her a patent.  Her company today has about 3,000 employees in 50 different companies.

So when you enjoy your morning cup without grounds (unless you are still using a percolator, or maybe a French press) raise a toast to Melitta.

Melitta, her filters, and the first drip coffee maker.

👉 Here in Columbia County, Georgia, we have received word that the school year will end on May 8 for those students whose grades are up to snuff, and two weeks later for those who need more help.  For those of you who are home schooling kids or grandkids, it is not news that education is certainly different in these difficult days.  Most everything is on computers, but, I wonder, what about kids who don’t have access to computers – with the libraries closed, that avenue is gone.

The photograph below is one for the “My How Things Have Changed” department.  It’s our granddaughter Mayleigh having a video chat with two classmates and her teacher.

Looking at that picture reminded me of “School Days,” a song written in 1907 by Will D. Cobb and Gus Edwards about a mature couple looking back sentimentally on their childhood together in primary school. 

My how things have changed.  Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bd84CzRuxY

👉 On April 13, 1970, we heard the second most famous words spoken by a man in space: “Houston, we’ve had a problem.”  Command module pilot Jack Swigert said it first, and then mission commander Jim Lovell repeated it.  A routine stir of an oxygen tank ignited damaged wire insulation inside it, causing an explosion that vented the contents of both of the service module’s oxygen tanks to space. 

With that, the moon landing was lost, and for four days, hearts and prayers were literally directed to the heavens for the safe return of the astronauts.  Jim Lovell, the only man to go to the moon twice and not walk on it, Jack Swigert, and lunar module commander Fred Haise splashed down safely 50 years ago today.

👉 I’m going to turn the closing meditation from Psalm 23 over to Max Lucado today.

“‘He leads me beside the still waters,’ David declares.  And in case we missed the point, he repeats the phrase: ‘He leads me in the paths of righteousness.’

“‘He leads me.’  God isn’t behind me, yelling, ‘Go!’  He is a head of me, bidding, ‘Come!’  He is in front, clearing the path, cutting the brush, showing the way.  Standing next to the rocks, he warns, ‘Watch your step here.’

“He leads us.  He tells us what we need to know when we need to know it.  As a New Testament writer would affirm: ‘We will find grace to help us when we need it’ (Hebrews 4:16 New Living Translation).

“God leads us.  God will do the right thing at the right time.  And what a difference that makes.  God is leading you.  Leave tomorrow’s problems until tomorrow.”

Thank you, Max.

Thank you, Father!

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