So, I know this is a coffee blog but we are going to talk about teapots because they are cool. I’m super stoked about writing about them cause they are super interesting and have quite a few similarities to a Christian’s spiritual journey with the Lord.
First, let us talk of Yixing teapots. These pots were made in Yixing, China, which is know as the “Pottery Capital” of China. These pots were first crafted during the Ming Dynasty. It is made out of a special clay called, “Zisha”, translated to “purple sand”. The proper way to use these pots is to first cleanse it with clean water and gently wipe the inside and outside to remove sediment trapped in the unglazed clay. The second thing you do is season the teapot. The first few cups you brew will seem a bit weak, cause the unglazed clay absorbs the flavor. But, through use, the interior of the teapot will take on subtle flavors and aromas from the multiple brews and will create stronger, better tasting cups of tea. The exterior will also acquire a patina — a rich scene of mature and seasoned clay, which enhances the beauty of the teapot. So, I didn’t know what patina meant so because I love definitions, I looked it up: a surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age and use. How fascinating is that! The more seasoned it is, the more beautiful it becomes…
Now, let us discuss the similarities between Christians and clay teapots… this blows my mind!
So, first off let us go back to the beginning when God made man out of the dust of the earth… man and clay are both made of dirt. Also, in John 9:6 (KJV), Jesus mad clay from the ground and anointed the eyes of a blind manned told him to wash it of the pool of Siloam. The name of the pool is interesting because the word Siloam means “sent”, which, Jesus was also sent. Jesus was sent to give sight to the blind. Then, the color of the clay is purple… which purple is the color of royalty. We are the children of a king.
Now, the cleansing of the teapot. You must you wash the pot with clean water. Gently wiping it inside and out, to remove sediment that is trapped within the clay. This sounds kinda like when you give your life to Jesus and you are washed clean by his blood and are made pure. We are also filled with living water. John 4:14 says, “Whoever, believes in me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them”. We are cleaned inside so that it bubbles over to the outside.
Finally, the seasoning, this is my favorite part. As we spend time with the Lord, through prayer, studying his word, etc we season our relationship with him. As we absorb what the Lord teaches us we slowly start to take on his “flavors and aromas”. People can not help but know who we are as followers of Christ because the more time we spend with him our exterior develops a patina. We overflow.
Cool, right?
