The Daily Grind: God with Your Coffee

By Susan Ward Diamond

How do you begin your day? All of us have our daily rituals, which have a way of influencing

the rest of our day. In her book, The Daily Grind: GOD With Your Coffee, author

Susan Ward Diamond shares stories and reflections gleaned from years of praying and

meditating early each morning over a cup of coffee.

Begun as a personal spiritual discipline, Diamond began sharing her Thoughts for the

Day with her congregation by email. Before long, her meditations had made their way

around the globe, encouraging others on their life journey to experience Gods joyful,

unconditional love each day.

Sometimes painful, sometimes humorous, always honest, you will find yourself in the

stories this pastor has to share. Story is the common thread that binds us to one another.

As the great novelist Willa Cather said, There are only two or three human stories,

and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before.

Life is difficultin fact, at times it can feel like a grind. But when God is invited into the

daily-ness of our lives, we begin to find a blend that is filled with a marvelous aroma!

The Daily Grind: GOD with Your Coffee will be a great addition to your daywhatever

time of the day you choose to read it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 27, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456752125

Susan Ward Diamond

The Rev. Dr. Susan Ward Diamond is the Senior Minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Montgomery, Alabama. Before coming to Montgomery in May of 2003, she served for thirteen years as Senior Minister of First Christian Church (Disciples) in Naples, Florida. Dr. Diamond received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas in 1987, a Master of Divinity degree from Brite Divinity School, TCU, in 1990 and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio in 2001. Her doctoral dissertation, “Community Evangelism in an Ecumenical Context through the Weekday Preschool” examined the relationship of congregations and church-sponsored preschools, along with the opportunities for sharing faith and support in those relationships. In January of 2006, Dr. Diamond began a daily on-line publication of her “Thoughts for the Day” as an encouragement to her congregation’s spiritual growth and development. The rapid expansion of email readership has been amazing. The “thoughts” are based upon Dr. Diamond’s real life experiences and struggles as she considers short quotes from both ancient and contemporary sources. At times painfully honest, at times humorous, always honest, readers are able to connect with their own faith journey and realize that God is still there to love, forgive and guide them on their way. As a result of the growth of “Thoughts for the Day” readership, in 2007 Dr. Diamond was asked to become a contributing columnist for Montgomery Elite, a local women’s magazine. In 2008, the Montgomery Advertiser, asked Dr. Diamond to write a monthly religion column entitled The Heart of the Matter. As her audience has grown, so have the requests for her writings to be compiled in book form. Susan is married to her husband of 32 years, Ron Diamond. They are the proud parents of their miniature dachshund Sweet Pea and “adopted parents” of Rosa and Aggie Kwambolsa, two little girls in Kenya whom they help to support and send to school.

Book preview

Contents

Introduction

Adversity

Self Esteem

Community

Worry

Prayer

Change

Faith And Risk

Relationships

Give

Dream

Forgiveness

Relationship With God

Introduction

A few years ago, I attended a homiletics workshop at Candler School of Theology in Atlanta featuring Dr. Fred Craddock. I was excited to have the opportunity to hear Dr. Craddock preach and teach about preaching. In his seminar, The Disciplines of Preaching, Dr. Craddock shared with us his dedication to daily spiritual practice. Among the daily practices that have shaped his life and ministry, his preaching and prolific writing, he said, I write a page every day. I never set out to write a book…I just write a page every day. It could be about an experience I’ve had. It could be about something in the news. It could be about something I heard or read. It could be about a reflection on scripture. It doesn’t matter what it is…I just write a page every day.

I thought about that. How hard could it be to write a page every day? Even I could do that! But like many good thoughts, I put it away for another time. Then one day, a couple of years later, I was thinking about how my spirit had come to a dry, barren place. Ministry demands had taken over my life, leaving me stressed and burned out. I knew I needed a spiritual practice that would keep me focused on the better part that Jesus reminded Martha her sister Mary had chosen. Journaling had been helpful in the past, but at that time I didn’t think journaling would provide the stretch that I needed to break out of my weariness and dissatisfaction. It was about that time that I received an email invitation to receive a quote for the day. The quotes were thought-provoking classical and contemporary citations intended for its readers to mull over. They became the grist for reflective writing, which later became a daily practice. I began to rise early each morning, make a cup of coffee, sit down at the computer and view a quote, think and pray, then write whatever came to me. What emerged refreshed my soul.

As I began the practice, the idea came to me of sharing these thoughts for the day with the congregation I serve as a way of connecting us together spiritually. It was a risky idea, because the writing exposed my real struggles and failures as well as hopes and joys. But the congregation enthusiastically responded to the idea, as many began to use these meditations to develop their own daily quiet time. Then, through the miracle of the Internet, I found my thoughts traveling all over the globe! Hundreds of people requested to be added to my email list to receive the daily reflections on life and faith.

Over the past three years, I have received several requests that these writings be put together in book form. A panel of ten readers took the collection and chose their favorites. Included in this book are some of them. The reflections come out of life experience and are told in story form, which may contribute to their value among those who read them. After all, story is the common thread that binds us to one another. As the great novelist Willa Cather said, There are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before.

It is my prayer that as you read these reflections, perhaps with your own cup of coffee, you will see something of your own life with God, and be blessed with hope and grace for your journey.

Adversity

To fly, we have to have resistance.

Maya Lin

Those who have never rebelled against God

Or at some point of their lives shaken their fists in the face of heaven,

Have likely never encountered God at all.

Catherine Marshall [adapted]

In some ways I gauge my life BDD and ADD: that is, Before Dad’s Death and After Dad’s Death.

My Dad died when he was just 49 years old, a victim of lung cancer caused from a life-time of smoking. I was just 22 years old when he died. His death was a pivotal moment in my life for many reasons, but one of the most significant ones was that Dad’s death was the first time I ever really dared to be furious with God.

I remember being in his hospital room. Dad was in a coma, and things looked grim. Before this time, I had refused to accept even the possibility that Dad might die. He would try to prepare me, but I would always respond by saying, Daddy, just have faith. God will heal you. God’s got a plan for you...and He wouldn’t let you die before you got the chance to finish that plan. I truly believed that. The preachers and teachers that I listened to told me to believe that...that if you were truly walking with Christ, God must heal...God must prosper ...God must act. Dad had repented and turned his life around, surely God would heal. That was what I believed with all my heart.

But then, here was Dad...clearly dying. I prayed and prayed and prayed for a miracle. Then, on a Sunday morning, in that hospital room, I had the TV on. One of my favorite preachers of the day was on, and he said something I’ll never forget. He said, pointing a finger at the screen,

If you’re in a hospital bed this morning, you’re out of the will of God.

When I heard those words, something inside of me snapped. It was like an explosion going off. I was hot! I was mad--at the thought, at the preacher who said it, and at a God who could possibly be allowing my Dad to die. My prayers turned from earnest pleas to spewing venom of anger and fury. I told God off in royal fashion! I told God just what I thought about it all...what was happening wasn’t fair, it wasn’t good, and it wasn’t loving. I told God that He wasn’t keeping His part of the bargain. How dare He?

And then, when I got finished telling God off, I cried. I wept for grief--for the loss of my Dad, but also for the loss of my faith. I sat by my Dad’s bed, holding his hand drowning in sorrow.

Finally, I just let it go. I said to God, Even though I don’t understand all of this, even though things aren’t happening like I think they should be, I have to trust in You. God, please heal my Dad...even if it means taking him home to be with You.

And at that moment...for the first time in days...I felt my comatose father squeeze my hand! I looked up and saw a single tear trickle down his face. And suddenly, I knew that everything was going to be all right. Dad was not out of the will of God...he was safe...he was loved... and soon, he would be home in heaven.

My father’s death taught me many things...about Dad, about myself, and about God. It was the hardest thing I had ever faced in my life...and it was the first time I had ever really shaken a fist toward heaven.

While taking a class years later on the Psalms, one of my professors said, The psalmists show us that the depth of faith exists in a life of prayer...even in prayers of anger. For who better than God can handle our anger? Where other than in prayer, is the best place to express our anger? Real faith is when we can be real with God--real in our joys as well as in our pain.

Can you be honest with God? Can you have enough faith to release your real self--even your angry self--to God in prayer? God can take it! In fact, God WANTS to take it...to help you through the depths of despair, depression, anger, fury, confusion.

ADD--After Dad’s Death I have come to understand that God’s will is much broader, deeper, mysterious and spectacular than I ever had imagined before. God no longer fits nicely into the box I had placed God in. That realization led me ultimately to seminary and into ministry. I continue to wrestle with God from time to time...and, while I don’t live for it, I don’t look for it, I welcome it...because I know that in the struggle...I will encounter the living God...and I will be changed.

Suffering colors life, but we can choose the color.

One of my heroes growing up was Mother Teresa. I was amazed at the impact that a little old nun made on the world, as she worked with the sick and dying on the streets of Calcutta.

How did she make such a difference? These people were going to die anyway. She was in the poorest place in the world. These people had no power or status. They were the throw-aways. What was it about her work that brought worldwide attention? I think it was because Mother Theresa was able to choose a different color in suffering. Do you remember what she said about those she ministered to--the sick and dying—the poorest of the poor? She said, These are Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor.

We have a food ministry every third week of the month at our church. Over 100 families come to receive around 40 pounds of groceries to help sustain them until their food stamps or social security checks come. Many of those who receive food are elderly, who without this ministry have to choose between food and medicine. Some are single moms with children. They come to receive food...but they also come to receive love and support from each other, and from our church. Sometimes we sing a hymn together. Often, as I move among the crowd, there are people who share their concerns for themselves or their family members. We pray together. And I always thank them for their presence...their representation of Jesus to us.

A friend of mine who was dying of cancer once said to me, You know, this may sound really strange, but I give God thanks for my cancer. It helps me to fully trust in God...not just on the surface, but with everything that’s in me.

Sometimes, when I am going through difficulties in my life, I turn more quickly to God for help and strength than I do when things are percolating along just fine. It is as if through difficulty and suffering that I am more open to seeing God’s presence and relying on God’s strength.

Suffering colors life. But we can choose the color.

Today, I want to challenge you to look around you and see your world with different lenses. Choose the color that will enable you to see your life and others who may be suffering this day as God does. Jesus said, Whenever you (serve the needs) of the least of these who are my brothers and sisters, you do it to Me. Choose the color as you face the challenges that confront you today, and allow God’s grace to be sufficient for you. Choose the color that will give you the strength to count it all joy as you face various trials and sufferings...because the testing of your faith produces endurance, and endurance will have its full effect, so that you will be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Choose the color...and allow God’s love to shine in you and through you!

"Knowing God makes us humble;

Knowing ourselves keeps us humble."

Early in our marriage, Ron and I attended a small Baptist church where one of our good friends was the choir director. I soon became involved in the music program as the organist. I had never played the organ before, but I enjoyed learning and playing organ-piano duets with one of my other good friends.

I remember one particular evening when we were playing an offertory. The music was lively, and we performed it with precision and beauty. The ending was magnificent! Everyone clapped with thunderous approval and praise. I was feeling quite proud of myself as I stepped off of the organ bench and on to the chancel to descend the steps down to the front pew for the sermon. Apparently, I was so caught up in myself that I didn’t take notice of the first step. I descended all right…head over heels down the steps and onto the floor!

I was okay. Nothing was bruised but my ego. But it served as a metaphor to remind me not to get too caught up in myself; because every time I do, I’m headed for a fall.

The great apostle Paul needed such a reminder in his life. He called it a thorn in the flesh. We don’t know what this thorn was—whether it was physical or emotional— but we know its purpose. God had allowed the messenger from Satan to hang around to keep Paul from thinking too highly of himself. The thorn was there to remind him that he needed God in his life, that he could never make it on his own.

And Paul wasn’t the only one. Every single one of the biblical greats had their own thorns to deal with: Moses had a stuttering problem; David had family problems; Jeremiah was too young; Isaiah had a foul mouth; Peter was always stumbling around. You see, God chooses to use all of us, even with our imperfections and failures, for God’s purposes. And because we are imperfect and we fail, God’s love and grace are even more profound.

Someone once said, The more I know God, the less I know. And I think that’s true. The more I stand in the presence of the Holy One, the more I realize that God is bigger, more powerful, more awesome than is possible for me to conceive. All I can do in that presence is to bow low in humility, for I, like Paul, am the chief of sinners. At the same time, I experience God’s intimate, amazing love and grace, forgiving me