Time to Clean the Pot
“Darryl,” I said to one of the morning studio camera operators. “The coffee is GREAT this morning! What did you do differently?”
Shrugging his shoulders, he replied, “I cleaned the pot.”
I thought about that long ago “morning-news-moment” yesterday—as my coffee maker was spitting and steaming, fussing and fuming and taking FOR-EV-ERRR to brew. When it finally finished, my coffee tasted—well, let’s just say, it was down the drain with that cup-o-joe. So, I tried my old friend Darryl’s approach, and—
I cleaned the pot.
It’s amazing how much better coffee tastes when the pot is clean. And, that thought led me to this one:
What’s in the pot of my life—the pot of my mind—the pot of my mouth… that needs to be cleaned?
When we are on the fast-track of life (and who isn’t?) it’s easy to just ‘rinse and go’ instead of taking the time to really clean out the pot that brews our thoughts, attitude, actions and words. Before long, we may find that our “pot” is filled with the residue, build up and debris of life’s hassles. We may find ourselves acting just like my coffee pot—spitting and steaming, fussing and fuming, and taking FOR-EV-ERRR to do what we need to do—the way we need to do it.
Although I like to think my pot is not all that dirty, I admit I’ve been running so fast lately, I’ve been in the rinse-and-go mode… and even a little build up can cause thoughts and actions that leave a bad taste. So, today…
I’m cleaning my pot.
Just like the variety in the row of cleaners at the supermarket, there are many ways to clean your life’s pot. This is what I am going to do—at least for today.
Step 1: I am going to scrub away negative thoughts that have built up in my mind. Just for today— just for the next 24 hours—every time I have a negative thought or reaction, I will write it down on a piece of paper—then cross it out..
Just. Like. This.
Step 2: Just for today—just for the next 24 hours—I’ll replace that negative thought or reaction with something positive or constructive. For example…
Negative: I don’t have enough time.
Positive: I have the same 24 hours everybody else in the world has each day. What 10. 15, 20 minutes do have that I spend on “this” that I might shift to spend on “that”?
Step 3: I’ll clean up my words. Trust me… I have one of the most boringly clean mouths around. when it comes to “those” words. But, in general conversation, just for today—just for the next 24 hours—I’ll replace spitting and steaming (I’m not being literal here, folks) with steadiness and self-control. I’ll speak words that encourage, uplift, and unify.
Step 4: Quality in, quality out. Sometimes, I buy the discount coffee brands. I’m always disappointed. The little I save isn’t worth it, because the quality of what my coffee pot brews is not first rate—no matter how clean the pot. So, just for today—just for the next 24 hours—I am going to only feed the pot (my brain) quality material.
I started with my scripture and devotional readings this morning. I’m going to be more aware throughout the day of what’s on my car radio, my television, and my laptop screen, my conversations.
The next 24 hours might be very cleansing. And, to think. It all started with a cup of coffee… brewed in a freshly washed pot.