Instant coffee (derived from brewed coffee beans and commercially produced by freeze drying or spray drying, after which it can be rehydrated through adding boiled water) has been around a long time now. It was first patented in 1890, by David Strang and was first available commercially in 1910, with the Nescafé brand, which introduced a more advanced coffee refining process, being launched in 1938.
The advantages of instant coffee are obvious. Instead of waiting to grind beans and then allow these to brew through the addition of hot water, a hot drink is available in seconds rather than minutes. In today’s busy society, such time-savings are highly prized.
Whether the taste is worth it is debatable, of course. And the whole question of instant gratification raises a number of questions when applied to the spiritual life. Our fast food society urges speed and haste on us above every other consideration, including taste, nutritional value and the pleasures of slowing down to eat amongst others. If we are not careful, the values and attitudes of this society are transferred to our perception of spiritual growth.
Discipleship cannot be instant. ‘No one is given an instant relationship with God. We must go through a process of learning what it means to live in relationship with Him,’ Richard Foster says in the book ‘Longing For God.’ (P 229) The process begins with conversion, but we must then go on to grow up in God and this cannot be rushed. Eugene Peterson says ‘maturity cannot be hurried, programmed or tinkered with. There are no steroids available for growing up in Christ more quickly. Impatient shortcuts land us in the dead ends of immaturity.’ (Eugene Peterson, ‘Practise Resurrection’) First of all we learn to harness our misdirected desires so that we can cultivate moral virtues, but we then need to understand that ‘moral achievement is not God’s ultimate intention for us. Rather, our destiny is a life-giving, ongoing interaction with God.’ (Richard Foster & Gayle Beebe, ‘Longing For God.’ P 229) We have to understand that spiritual growth cannot be rushed and that the lessons learned through perseverance, suffering and endurance are important to the shaping of who we become.
Here is a prayer for all who are in a hurry:
“We come humbly and bow before you, God. The world we live in has taught us to short-circuit our relationship with you. We’re taught to expect an instant relationship, instant answers to prayers, instant growth in grace, instant spiritual maturity. O God, truly merciful, forgive us our sins. Forgive our impatience. Forgive our arrogance. Forgive our impetuousness. O Lord, our Lord, forgive.
Teach us to take one step at a time. Teach us contentment in growing into your life little by little. Teach us the humility of unanswered prayer. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” (prayer taken from ‘Longing for God’ P 236)
So let’s perhaps abandon the fast food and the instant coffee, even for a day, and take time to realise that God’s not in as much of a hurry as we are but is wanting and working to shape us into the image of His Son, moulding us as the potter moulds the clay, breathing life into us even in the tedium of dailiness, where not much seems to happen and growth is infinitesimal. Sit down with a real cup of coffee and let God’s thoughts and ways percolate your soul…
