Friday, September 26, 2008

Surprised x 2

Two Surprises this week.

One of the "endorsements" inside the covers of "The Shack" state something to the effect of: "I don't jump on bandwagons... I'm on this one." I guess I'm like that too. I'm just a little skeptical when there's a lot of hype about something.

What really piqued my interest in this book though was that I read on a blog from a missionary serving in Ukraine that she is using the book as a text for teaching English as a second language. Hmm, I wondered...what's so good about this book?

Well- read it and find out. It's a great story to begin with and it's the best novel revealing Truth (the person and the concept) since "This Present Darkness". Again...one endorser said it's the best Christian Fiction since "Pilgrim's Progress".

It's a little out there...but at the same time I'd have to say I feel like it's spot on.


Another great surprise this week.

I bought some Tea home from China last year. It's been in a bag with other memorabilia since I returned home. I ran across it a few weeks ago before moving to the lakehouse so I packed it. I broke it out last night.

It's an "oolong" tea. That's all I remember about it. It's a very mild, light green tea. When I first opened the bag I feared it might have rotted or something...I don't know what I was expecting...tea leaves I guess. Instead the bag was filled with little greeny-whitish balls. I thought the white might be mold or something.

But I pressed on. I heated some water and dropped a few "balls" into it. And within a minute the balls unfurled into pretty little green leaves.

The taste: Oh. Like I said, not very strong- just a mild green tea. But this one has an aftertaste. It's so subtle you might miss it. I don't know how to describe it except that it reminds me of Honeysuckle. You get this very subtle, sweet aftertaste that makes your tongue probe all over your palate trying to find more. And what's even better...is when you inhale through your mouth...you get this fragrance or taste (I don't know which) of Honeysuckle...or whatever it is.

Just a really nice surprise...and a nice reminder of many of the places I visited last year because everyone else in the WORLD drinks hot tea. (Not that I'm not still addicted to good Southern Sweet Iced Tea!)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow... that sounds so very cool... the tea, that is. My friend Bevely is currently reading "The Shack," too. She was telling me yesterday that I need to read it before I start anything else... and with your endorsement, too, I reckon I'll have to go out and find it. Good to hear from you, little brother... loving you... and praying for you always...

Thuy said...

Hi Clinton. We will be on the Coast for Thanksgiving this year. We would love to see you then. Will you be around that Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving?

Thuy said...

Yes, let's do lunch. I hate that you would be coming down from Vicksburg just for our visit, but selfishly, I'd love for you to. And it may be mine and Ryan's last chance to see you before you go! Could we touch base about the day (Fri or Sat) closer to that time?

Anonymous said...

Missing you, little brother... hope you're well...

((((((((hugs))))))))

Anonymous said...

Yesterday morning, our Sunday school teacher gave away the WHOLE story... I could've bopped him in the head...

I still want to read it, tho...

Bo and Kari said...

I remember now! Your blogs import directly into my outlook, i read and delete without ever really even looking back at your page. So I am a follower of yours, just a stealth one :) Hope your doing well!