BIRTH OF A TEA PRIESTESS

It was mid afternoon of a pretty ordinary day for me living in Germany.  Since being overseas, I never turn on the radio but that day, I just wanted something different to listen to in the ceramic shop and I had forgotten to change the CDs out of my mini wallet. I mindlessly tuned into the American radio station.  I was in a rush through checking the kilns as I would soon have to pick up my daughter from school.

"There seems to have been an accident," the DJ said "a plane
has crashed into one of the towers in New York City."  It seemed like no big deal.  5 minutes later my husband came rushing in.. carrying his weapon and in full battle gear.  "I just wanted to tell you I love you" he said then told me what was really happening.  

The rest of the day was a blur of activity.  Our post had been locked down no cars in or out until they had a plan. The post
was set up with housing on one side, the school on the other 
and we all were frantically trying to get their kids.  

There were only 3 TV channels and they were all running the horror over and over again.  I had to turn it off and put on cartoons
a desperate attempt to preserve my child's innocence while I 
tried to make sense of what was happening.  

Those of us who had internet opened our homes so others 
could send emails.  We couldn't get through on the phones.
What I remember most about the rest of that day is wanting to 
do something to not feel so helpless.  

I began making tea and giving a cup to everyone who came in. 
In making those pots of tea, they did exactly what William Gladstone said they would do:

"If you are cold, tea will warm you; 
if you are too heated, it will cool you; 
if you are depressed, it will cheer you; 
if you are excited, it will calm you.”

Those pots of tea began to comfort and soothe, to bring the tension down, to offer love and hope.  Making those pots of tea allowed me to step out of the helplessness and into my calling.  

It was in making those pots of tea that I became a tea priestess.

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