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Waiting for Tea

5/17/2016

6 Comments

 
Picture
​I love tea. I drink it every day.
I make it myself. I order it out.

Tea is instantly available to me throughout the day. I buy it, I have lots of it, I go places that sell it, and they serve it to me.

When I went to China I survived on Jasmine tea and French fries (I was not a fan of the food there). Whenever I ordered tea the waiters would smile and say, "Okay". Clearly they had taken my order and understood that I was ordering tea. 

After ordering, several minutes would pass, and I would begin to wonder where my tea was. I was not in the agitated state yet, just curious. 

Several more minutes would pass, and I would enter the "Where are the waiters, and where have they gone with my tea?" stage.

After about 10 minutes I would reach the agitation stage. I called the waiters over and said, "Could you please bring me my tea?"

Each time I went through this scenario they would look confused, smile, and say, "Tea, yes, tea,". They talked to me as if I was confused. Hahaha.

About 20 minutes after ordering my tea it would finally arrive at my table. Every time...20 minutes.

Funny thing is, I went to an Asian restaurant here in town the other day. The exact same thing happened. I smiled and shared this story with my friends. 

Why are we in such a hurry? Tea drinking is a ceremony in many places. It is to be sipped slowly and enjoyed. 

The Chinese wait staff (lol wait staff) had no awareness that anything was being delayed or that anything was wrong. Of course nothing was wrong. However, during my two week trip across China I saw Americans and Europeans alike flaunting their impatience about the not-so-prompt arrival of their tea or coffee. We all looked pretty silly.

Why are we in such a hurry? Does anyone know why? It's destroying us, and still we hurry.

I hope my tea takes 20 minutes the next time I order and that I sit and take in the marvelous view of this day, this hour, this minute, this place. It will never be repeated in the same way. Ever.

What could you be savoring that you are rushing through instead? Why is it difficult to slow down? What could you do to not rush so much? Please share your thoughts in the comment section, we want to hear from yoU!

Love,
Blessed
​
(Written by Jane Hart, copyright 2016)

6 Comments
Ann
5/17/2016 11:59:26 am

It's so interesting how we can learn from other cultures, especially through our annoyances. I didn't know about this tea waiting custom. Americans want our drink to help us relax and enjoy the wait.
I'm curious how the ceremony is playing out in restaurants. Is It all about the steeping?
Love your inspiration and Asian respect for tea divine timing.

Reply
Blessed
5/17/2016 07:38:53 pm

Ann! Yes! Agreed that we learn much from other cultures. I totally like your steeping theory as the reason for the wait! Thanks for your comment dear one!

Reply
Lisa
5/18/2016 06:56:02 am

As I am reading your blog post, I am sitting in my mother's empty house, waiting for the gas company to arrive. Earlier this week I was notified that the line was damaged during street repairs.
Sitting in the cold, quiet house, watching the clock and getting more upset by the minute! I had a two hour drive to be here at 8:00 am, only to sit here and wait. I have a million things I should be doing at home, and here I sit.
After about an hour of waiting, I decided to just be still. Wrapped in a blanket, sitting in the middle of the empty living room in the house I grew up in. I listen to the silence. When was the last time I was able to just sit, in complete silence? Can't even remember!
As I sit, I hear the familiar sounds of this old creaky house. The train roars past, and I am transported back to when I was a child, laying at night next to my open window 40 years ago. I had all the time in the world back then, and all I wanted was to hurry up and become an adult. Time seemed to drag on forever back as I waited to get older so I could have a "real life".
Did I appreciate my youth and the fact that I had seemingly unlimited time ahead of me? I don't think I did. I have lived most of my life rushing from one thing to the next, not being present, but already thinking ahead to the next task on my to-do list. Forty years gone by in a blink. And I'm still waiting to feel like a grown- up.
Thank you for the reminder to stop and to be present. To wait patiently for the tea to steep! To enjoy the waiting, because this moment, right now is all there is, and all there will ever be.

Reply
Patti
5/18/2016 06:59:59 am

This was such medicine for my soul today. The silence, entering it and savoring the sips of life as they are delivered to us from a Loving Place that without stillness, we can not experience.

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Georgia Reash
5/18/2016 10:29:42 am

My first insight into the spirituality of tea was with a Hindu friend who, upon the first five minutes of our first meeting one another, lit incense and brought out a pot of tea to share; symbolizing 'the sacredness' in our meeting and the conversation exchanged.

Reply
Blessed
5/20/2016 04:02:58 pm

I just love all of these comments...beautiful...thank you.

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