In physics, inertia is “the property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force.”

An example apropos to our setting is that of stirring a cup of your favorite tea to incorporate honey, lemon, or cream. The tea continues to swirl in a circle for a time even after you have stopped stirring because of inertia. The external force of the stirring has compelled the tea to change from stagnant or jiggling (That's a scientific term) in the cup to swirling.

None of us at My Cup of Tea were physics majors, but we know a little something about inertia. The inertia we witness is physical, mental, and emotional – the kind that is prevalent in those stifled by the effects of generational poverty and trauma. Human inertia is not laziness or a salty disposition. In fact, people can desire to change their circumstances but lack the compulsion to execute the necessary steps.

Consider someone afflicted with clinical depression (some of the ladies are). That person may realize that sunshine and fresh air might improve how they feel on a particularly miserable day. They might think a distraction – a new project, upbeat music, or a favorite pastime – might lift their spirits. However, they are incapable of, despite the possibility of feeling better, crawling out of bed. It often takes an external force like words of affirmation from a loved one, someone physically taking the person by the hand and pulling them out of bed, or medicine and therapy to overcome this moment.

For over a decade, we have seen the impact of inertia on the women we serve but in varying degrees. There are those who simply needed a job opportunity and a fair wage (the external force) to improve their lives and become more stable. Others required the fear of a negative consequence to play the role of the external force – obtaining custody of a child, the threat of eviction, or the discovery of a serious health issue, for example. Those fears or consequences compelled those ladies to take hard but necessary steps to change their paths. Then there are those who struggle mightily to lift the boulder of inertia off them though they recognize the benefits that may accrue to them or the suffering likely to vex them.

Adequate housing, as you already know, is a persistent problem for the ladies at My Cup of Tea. As the new rent-to-own homes down the street spring up, we have remained vigilant about guiding and supporting the My Cup of Tea ladies to make applications and be in a financially sound position to qualify. We have flooded them with various versions of financial literacy training including requirements to secure a mortgage. Volunteers with financial skills have worked one-on-one with some of the ladies to navigate credit reports and housing applications. Some have helped prepare budgets, dispute inaccuracies in credit reports, and carefully list the documents required to apply. Yet, some of the women, though seemingly desirous of a better home have not, will not, or cannot take the steps they must take personally to make this dream a reality.

Admittedly, the housing process can be overwhelming for anyone, but we have seen inertia’s impact in relation to car repairs, school applications for children, entrepreneurial opportunities, and more. And, money is not the issue in most cases because we have accessed our emergency fund and relied on the generosity of volunteers to absorb many of these costs.

So, what should we do? Here are two thoughts:

First, we Americans expect things to happen quickly. In the age of instant gratification, we’re expecting the heart or thumbs-up emoji to magically appear in our text threads within seconds, or at the most minutes, of pressing send.

Conversely, the women we serve have been waiting for years for a dignified opportunity, a safe place to work, a fair wage, and simple justice in the daily affairs of their lives. And not just them, but their parents, grandparents, and ancestors, too. While they waited, disappointment, suffering, and injustice have been the “rule” not the “exception.”  Exhaustion, cynicism, and lived experience cannot be changed by us overnight. Like the cup of tea, we can stir it, but eventually, it will come back to rest and remain there until roused by another external force.

Second, inertia is not a condition exclusive to the My Cup of Tea ladies or people dealing with poverty and trauma. Inertia, in a sense, is the human condition. We are inclined toward uniform motion like a train on a straight track traveling through sin, disappointment, grief, and despair. It is the external (and internal) force of Christ that derails us from this destructive course.

For now, we continue to patiently and graciously stir the tea and wait on the One inertia cannot resist.

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.”  Proverbs 20:21

Each of us was given a name at birth, and most likely, that name will stay with us for a lifetime. In naming our five children, our decision in assigning a “handle” for them to use throughout their life, was to connect them to family names.  With the name came the story of the ancestor and encouragement to honor his legacy.

When Moses and Elijah returned to earth on the Mount of Transfiguration, to be with Jesus, they had the same names they had been given on earth. The apostles’ names are written eternally in the foundation of the New City, Jerusalem, in Revelation 21:14.  Thus it is possible that in Heaven we’ll be called by the same name we’re called by now, and we’ll keep that name throughout all ages to come.

Biblical names tell stories and quality values, like John, which means “God’s gracious gift”. Scripture surrounds his name and emboldens John’s character throughout the Gospels. To a young man named John is attached Psalm 103:4,

“He redeems your life from the pit, he surrounds you with grace and compassion and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads.”

Several websites offer the meanings and history of first names in various languages.

For Valentine’s Day, I gave each of the ladies an illustrated acrylic picture frame block with her name calligraphed above her name’s character quality. A Bible verse that amplifies the essence of her name was added below.

The ladies at My Cup of Tea had never been told, nor did they know existed the suggested character quality implied in the literal meaning of their given name.  I encouraged each to embrace the meaning of her name and memorize the scripture attached to her name. The name equivalents were fascinating, and ironically exactly right for each of them. Tears flowed, as each lady had her moment to be honored and applauded in our small ceremony. Each lady blushed and then received the respect and tribute due her name with humility.  It was better than an “awards day” and will last far longer than a free food box from the food pantry.

All 14 of our ladies had appropriate matches. For example:

For the one we call our most spiritually grounded, her name means:  Seeking One

Psalm 27:8 "My heart says of you, 'Seek His face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek."

For the one who keeps us entertained and on task, her name means: Enthusiastic

Psalm 119:16 "I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your word."

For the one who exhibits the values we aspire to strengthen, her name means: Womanly

Proverbs 31:10 "A woman of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies."

For the one who is encouraged to trust her children to the Lord, her name means: Little Lamb

Isaiah 40:11 "He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young."

I recently wrote in the January MCOT Newsletter a tribute to one of our ladies who is a “momma bear” to two of her own and raising several more. She is a tenacious, determined, and unshakable warrior in a war zone of poverty and injustices.

Her name means: BEAUTIFUL

In her complicated world, Jesus sees her as beautiful and worth dying for, so that she might see Him as beautiful and worth living for.

The verse in Scripture that is selected for “Beauty” is Psalm 29:2. 

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in holy array.”

“I never knew my name had Biblical strength”, she said smiling.

She also is unaware that in Revelation 2:17 “To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it”

This will be her pet name only known between her and The Savior, who is yoked with her now in her mission of mercy to be an overcomer and victorious in leaving the bedlam of the streets and her old neighborhood. She has two daughters whose name equivalents mean ironically “Good” and “Fast Runner”.  Without knowing, she is reminding them to run back to her and stay good.  Her household  family is secure because it also includes the One whose name means:

“Wonderful Counselor”, “Prince of Peace”, “Almighty God”, and “Everlasting Father."

Editor's note: This post originally appeared January 25, 2022. With Valentine's Day near, we thought this message to still be quite relevant and worth sharing again. Thank you for reading.

I recall Valentine’s Day class parties when I was in lower school. We all decorated cardboard shoe boxes with red and pink construction paper hearts and made a slit in the lid for classmate mail.  We were in an all-girl school, so the messaging was perfunctory and silly.

     “I’m hooked on you”, for example, with a fishhook dangling before a small fish.

     “You are such a cutie! “You are a berry good friend”, with a picture of a bowl of fruit. And so, it went. Those were the days of innocence and neighborhood friendships.

Last week we had a round table discussion among our ladies at the House, regarding sex, romance, husbands, boyfriends, and marriage. Many of the women who spoke up wished they had “woke up” to the warnings in their youth by their mothers and grandmothers.  Eros, the love that can draw us into romance without commitment, and sex without promise, is advertised ubiquitously and alleged to be the ultimate love. However, it comes with small print directions and warnings. Frequently what today’s society calls love has brought beautiful children into the world for our community yet left many as single moms parenting and providing for several children alone while living dependent on family, friends, and government assistance.

In the New Testament, there are four Greek words used to describe different types of love – Eros, Storge, Philleo, and Agape.

Eros, or romantic love, is what we discussed last week. And when Eros evaporated, the trusted love of family called Storge helped keep the future hopeful and taught our friends how to make a way in hardship with real friends.  

As many shared at the table, tears flowed. Two of our ladies were faithful to their unfaithful husbands and cared for them in failing health and terminal illness.  They buried them with dignity, though their own was lost.  One has had multiple fathers to her children, and they all are missing in the parenting of them.  Two have husbands without work and young children at home.  One gave birth to a child after being raped at age 12.  Some of the women were sharing for the first time.

We cultivate Storge in Orange Mound. We women are sturdy, and we are strongest when working together in community. We all have invisible Valentine's boxes with lids.  Encouragement comes in multiple forms as we invest our resources compassionately through the small, concealed openings in the box. Allowing others to know our heartaches, opens the box covered in tattered Valentine's hearts and cheap expressions that belie the truth of the struggles of single moms. Faith in Christ changes the tattered to the eternal.

We befriend, support, equip, and promote the ladies in our neighborhood.  We try to absorb the pain from the wounds of the past by listening, sharing the burdens, grieving, and resourcing. Whether financial, medical, housing, educational, or some other unmet need, we intervene when the ladies want us to, and help in the best ways we can. Our moms are revered at The House. The struggles of raising kids in the inner city are myriad and the fears of gun violence in their neighborhoods are palpable. Crime abounds with hair-trigger anger among the frustrations of poverty and the pandemic. We pray for all with unconditional support and grace.

For those who have believed in Jesus, our Savior, husband, and father to our children, we have become sisters in faith and embraced Philleo.  We are a spiritual family. Philleo brings honor and accountability to our friendships and motivates us to serve together and help all who have lost their bearings. Family always has priority, whether in security or need.  Our Prince, The Prince of Peace, opens the finest of loving relationships among individuals in this family that also packages and sells lovely teas.

The evidence of the redemption of our past is in our assurance of the AGAPE love of our Lord.  He is Whom we serve and ultimately long to please.  We return Agape to Him, in part, by loving our neighbors as ourselves, those inside and outside the House at 3028 Carnes.

For single moms, Jesus is their Bridegroom, Husband, and Comforter. For their children, He is their Shield and Defender, Protector and Provider. His Agape is contagious, irresistible, and available to us all.

Since at least the 15^th century, tea and the ritual of the Japanese ceremony have been an integral part of not only the culture of Japan, but the political machinations of emperors, warriors, and business tycoons. Kristin Surtak, a professor of Japanese politics, says the tea ceremony is presented as a place of equality. It is said to be about wa, kei, sei, and jaku, which are harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility - concepts believed to be understood by anyone from any culture.

In the early twentieth century, the Japanese tea ceremony became essential to trade negotiations and growing business relationships. While the ceremony remained ornate with the beauty and fragility of the elements used to convey wealth and power, the process was intended to invoke humility. It is said that magnates like J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller actually knelt and served themselves, as required by the ceremony. Kneeling and serving oneself signals that everyone in the room is on the same level. Being on one’s knees can be vulnerable, uncomfortable, and intimidating unless everyone else is on their knees too.

At the House, we discuss the importance of humility, and everyone strives to model it. We are intentional about facilitating situations where everyone is on the same “level.” Affluent white women from East Memphis pull weeds in our gardens beside Black women from Orange Mound. Volunteers peel and place branded stickers on shiny foil packages alongside the ladies who are doing the same to earn a paycheck. Employees sit on our board of directors, participate in discussions, and vote on proposals.

We’re not naïve. We understand that some bank accounts have more in them than others. We know that affluency, education, and even race sometimes come with advantages. We know some have traveled the world while others have barely left the boundaries of their neighborhoods. We know that some have access to the best doctors and treatments for illnesses while others lack a primary care physician. And we recognize that culture often equates human worth to net worth.

Yet, there is one place where we know that there is not one iota of difference between us.

On our knees in prayer.

It’s not very often that anyone physically gets on their knees at the House. Some of us would struggle to get up again. When we are in prayer together though, which is daily, we are on our knees in our hearts. Like the tycoons of the tea ceremony, we are vulnerable, maybe a little uncomfortable, and not intimidated because we are all on the same level before God.

And it is during these times that we see clearly that the emotions of grief, loss, fear, anxiety, inferiority, disappointment, frustration, anger, and the like live in every zip code, every neighborhood, every street, every home, and every heart. From this, unlike the participants in the tea ceremony, we don’t serve ourselves but seek to serve others.

“Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” – Acts 10:34-35

A momma bear is willing to stand between her children and an entire army to protect and defend.

I met the personification of her several weeks ago when she arrived at The House inquiring what we do on our corner in Orange Mound.

“We offer secure jobs,” I explained, and she began to cry.

Her story was familiar, but her layers of need were staggering. It was late in the day, and we assured her an interview the following Monday.  Because she appeared to be only in her 20’s, we wrongly surmised her aspirations would be unfolding, and we would be a logical step in her discovering her career path.

She arrived early on Monday and pieces of her story unraveled before us as she shared the life that she had led in a wilderness otherwise known as the streets. Her past had been tightly tied and knotted in adversity. We learned she and her siblings had been abandoned by their mother, and DCS assigned them to multiple foster homes where she was sexually abused.  She lived in the streets, meaning she was homeless, unemployed, and dependent on handouts.  Injustices were her companions, and she trusted no one.  She couldn’t finish high school.   She was raped more than once along the way and has two daughters. One is special needs.

Undaunted, she has pieced together enough money to rent a worn-out, broken-down miserable three bedroom, one bath house a short distance from My Cup of Tea. She is “Momma Bear” to 4 of her brother’s sons, 3 of her half-sister’s sons, and her own 2 daughters. All of them live in the 3 bedroom dump for which her 2 siblings help match the exorbitant rent the Mama Bear calls home. Meanwhile she is applying to DCS to get custody of her deceased sister’s 6 sons who have been in foster care for a year. “I’m all they got,” she lamented as her story commanded our attention in the front office where we were all sitting.

She was resolute that she had to get her sister’s kids out of foster care, or they would never survive.

Her immediate need is furniture for the DCS inspection of her home.  I offered to go home with her and look and see what we might be able to request of friends who give generously to our mission.

Most people aren’t aware of how bleak some living conditions in our city can be. I respectfully commended her for her housekeeping in deplorable conditions. The bathroom sinks pipe empties freely into the cabinet below it where a small bowl overflows with every use.  There is a noticeable soft section in the kitchen floor that forewarns a breakthrough to the ground sooner than later. There is a boarded-up window in the living room, and menacing floor furnaces in the hall and kitchen area.

The 7 male kids sleep on 2 mattresses laid on the floor with their parent. Her daughters sleep in her bed without linens. There are 2 TVs, and a small table with 2 chairs.  There is a washing machine, but the dryer is busted.  Clothes are piled in every corner, since there are no hangers for the closets and no drawers or chests for folding clothes. Thirteen people call it home. She is completely dependent on a check she gets for her special needs daughter, and SNAP, formerly known as “food stamps,” which is government issued for low- and no-income parents.

She now has an income stream that is based on her work, and she has an army standing solidly with her instead of against her.

She is our newest employee.  She sports 2 new custom uniforms with her name embroidered.  She has been to the Neighborhood Christian Center clothes closet and has clothes that fit her amply. She comes to work early daily, in a car that sounds like a cement mixer but is able to make the round trips from home to Hanley Elementary to My Cup of Tea. She paid a small loan we gave her for a used tire back to us with her first paycheck. Now the car has one reliable paw.  She is offered our leftovers to feed her children and is only recently aware of the food pantry access and delivery Ms. Pearl brings to us weekly.

If only a small part of this story is true, we have no choice but to stand with this Momma Bear.

Cynics don’t peruse Isaiah 57 as our MCOT sisters and volunteers often do.

Isaiah 57:6-11

Our friend who calls herself “Momma Bear” has one mission in mind, and that is to get all of her cubs under one roof where she can protect them from the predators in the wilderness she grew to hate. We have a mission as well, which is to  bring light to her darkness and strengthen her resolve to trust her Creator whom we serve and obey and gladly share His grace.

In 1919, the iconic comic strip, "Popeye the Sailor" appeared, but it wasn’t circulated widely until it debuted in1929 in the daily King Features comic strip, Thimble Theatre. In 1932, fans met the affable, hamburger-loving moocher, J. Wellington Wimpy or Wimpy, for short.

While some younger folks may not know its origin, most people have heard the classic Wimpy catch phrase, “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” In fact, wildly popular series like The Office and The Drew Carey Show even incorporated the line into an episode.

In the world of nonprofits, it is easy on some days to feel like a version of Wimpy – asking for help today for the promise of a future return. Unlike Wimpy who is nearly obsessed with securing a hamburger and will not shrink from asking for one, we are sometimes embarrassed to ask you for help.

Most of us reading this blog are well enough resourced that asking for financial help is something we do rarely, if ever. The rugged individualism of our American upbringing tells us to work hard and pull ourselves up from our proverbial bootstraps. So, the idea of asking for money, or much of anything else, is foreign and even disdainful to most of us.

Yet, that is exactly what the ladies of My Cup of Tea have had to do. When they came to the House the very first time, each needed help, and at least initially, it was often in the form of money to pay a utility bill or buy groceries. None have ever feigned a promise of a future return, but they have exuded gratitude.

For our part, we have been privileged to help them, not only with an immediate need, but with an opportunity to improve their lives through dignified work. They have developed genuine friendships and relationships outside of their limited networks. They have experienced food, culture, music, events, and experts with whom they never would have crossed paths. Most importantly, they have deepened their understanding of God’s love for them and persisted in their relationships with Him.

If we’re looking for the tangible, the concrete, we find it in the data:

• $2 million in wages paid
• 125,000 hours of dignified work provided
• 25,000 meals served from the generosity of volunteers,

benefitting more than 100 women and their extended families in this slice of Memphis called Orange Mound.

On Tuesday, December 3^rd, nonprofits across the nation recognize Giving Tuesday. It is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and while we’re all feeling more grateful for our loved ones, we hope some will act on that gratitude and donate to a worthy cause. At My Cup of Tea, we typically send an email and post on social media, but Giving Tuesday is not an emphasis for us. But this year is different.

With higher prices and costs for goods and services and less disposable income for most, our bottom line has been impacted. We are not desperate. The doors are not closing, but it is harder than it has been and the prospect of serving more Orange Mound women than those on the payroll today is dimmer than in past years.

As Giving Tuesday, December 3^rd approaches, please consider how you might support the work we are doing in Orange Mound. There are two main ways to give: a one-time donation online or by check or monthly through our sustaining donor program, The Blend.

We can’t promise to pay you back the following Tuesday, but we can assure you that we are changing lives one cup at a time.

     Socially, everyone shares space, time, and oxygen daily among people with whom they have no interest or compunction to be involved.  Present but unseen, they may fall into categories of old, young, fat, thin, smart, slow, liberal, conservative, believer, non-believer, Republican, Democrat, American or “other”.  “Dismissed” or “canceled” are current expressions used broadly among Generation Z and all too often among those of us unwilling to see everyone in our midst as people made in the image of God.

      Rick and I have recently completed an intensive week of study, tours, and reflections in England and Scotland among ten talented scholars of history and

theology.  We enthusiastically shared space, time, air, room, and board with them.

      Coasting on their credentials, I touched a first edition of the Guttenberg Bible. I sat at the desk of C.S. Lewis, and I stood in the space where Archbishop Cranmer wrote the Book of Common Prayer.  We were convinced by the abundance of facts and artifacts that England’s courageous church leaders of the 17^th and 18^th centuries sparked, and then set aflame, the Reformation of the Church and the translation of the Bible into English for commoners. The Puritans brought the Bible to America and Christian education in America took root.

      Four centuries since, many in our country have canceled the veracity and value of the Bible, and many more are woefully biblically illiterate.

      Our fellow travelers, on the trip through England and Scotland, were united in mission to explore solutions to evangelize those in Generation Z who are unaware of God’s plan of redemption, His love for His creation, and His mercy and kindness to all who breathe our air and live in our spaces.

      While our focus is different, I was thankful for opportunities to share with the group what is underway in Orange Mound at My Cup of Tea.

       None of the ladies at The House have heard of the Guttenberg Bible or imagined the historical record of men and women who were martyred for bringing the Bible to the people. They and we are the beneficiaries of the heroes of our faith.

“For whoever will confess Jesus is Lord and believe in her heart God raised Him from the dead, she shall be saved”.  Romans 10:9-11. Unlocking this truth was the catalyst that brought the Bible within reach four centuries ago and is equally impactful today.

      I often reflect on our mission at the House:

…to walk with women beyond the boundaries of poverty and neglect and assist them in building stable lives. We transform lives by providing meaningful employment packaging and selling tea, nurturing cross-cultural, trusting relationships, fostering respect and understanding, and prioritizing and demonstrating authentic community with the women we serve and our neighbors in Orange Mound.

      Economic headway is static and difficult to measure optimistically. Current inflation and government subsidy deflation has discouraged our ladies’ climb out of poverty and amended their hopes and filed away their dreams for a time.

      Growing in faith, however, we are on track.  Four of our women have joined the “whoevers”, and all are grasping biblical insight and have expressed genuine seeking hearts to embrace the Lord’s plan and purpose for themselves.

      Only a few of our employees have a high school degree, and their public-school education legally bypassed prayer in the classrooms and courses on Christianity. Nevertheless, there is a fresh and genuine thirst for Truth without knowledge of the foundational integrity of our Christian faith.

       I reminded my fellow travelers through England and Scotland that these ladies are no less valuable in the eyes of Jesus than authors, scholars, martyrs, or kings. The Bible has over 400 references to caring for the poor in the cities, on the sidewalks, and the slums. The Lord is no respecter of rank or PhD’s. Every space in time is fertile for the spread of the Gospel.

      Through our individual friendships and opportunities to serve in Orange Mound, we have received favor at My Cup of Tea. We are serving “manna” to all levels of spiritual appetites.   Matching the need for safety, security, and significance with the guidance of the loving Holy Spirit is fulfilling our mission of 12 years and fortifying our purpose for the future.

      My new friends, with whom I shared the visit to England, will participate in the ignition of a much-needed revival of faith in North America. They are dedicated and anointed to further the Kingdom of God. Much like the First Century Church, their prayers, networks and resources will be powerful in the hands of the Lord.

      But our prayers are equally powerful, and we honor the same God who answers them.  As one of my new friends commented as we were departing, “We are dedicated globally for the rebirth of the lost among influencers of the 21^st Century, and your mission field is one block in Orange Mound”.  

This is our space, our time, and our empowering Spirit-filled oxygen for enlightenment. Our ladies of Orange Mound are already changing the neighborhood for good by sharing the Gospel.

I have had and continue to have an extraordinary opportunity to extend a bounty to others in the form of honest employment, whereby they might also bless and provide for those who depend on them. Serving those I now lead and supervise has diminished the timetable for a path from rags to riches.  Stability and mobility out of poverty for a single woman in Orange Mound is beyond complicated.   

Their unfamiliar and daunting challenges interrupt my peace of mind but are common to all of them. Unreliable transportation is a given; many of their cars are on life support. Diabetes is tragically familiar. Food security for many depends on the generosity of others who bring lunch and treats daily.

Each lady comes to The House with personal heartaches that must be aired and shared.  Many of their kids are repeating the dreaded cycles of drug addiction, armed robbery, promiscuity, truancy, and rebellion. Bills with exorbitant late fees and utility cut-off notices find their addresses easily, however repairs on their rentals don’t.

Wise choices, and the resources to make wise choices, are a daily need and my constant prayer.  I long to be patient, gracious, and slow to anger, recognizing always God’s image is stamped on us, and His presence is a promise. He supplies provisions for us fellow pilgrims and fellow beggars, but they often seem to add up to only a ration. Divine reciprocity is not based on hard work, prayer, or kindness.

Several of the most ambitious ladies have side hustles to help their disrupted income flow. Each has more talent than she realizes. I am researching and overflowing with ideas to build out their enterprises, but what most need are a vision, encouragement, and a huge push. Seeking their prosperity, I overlook the debris field of crises in which they live.

One, whom we have helped establish a modest catering business, needs to quickly earn $5,000 from her efforts.  Her network is thinner than her know how. If she doesn’t net $5,000, her daughter remains in jail. She has seven more children of her own and is caring for another daughter’s special needs son.

One of our ladies has a knack for repurposing furniture but has never factored-in her labor costs into her price and virtually charges only for her supplies. She is losing business for lack of marketing. Her enthusiasm has deflated as she cares for her cousin who is special needs.

One has lost momentum and sales in her sewing career due to family pressures and caring for a beloved brother who has moved into her limited working space.

Since I cannot launch their businesses without their energy and aspirations, I am called to establish a tone and a culture of kindness and grace. The House has always been, and must remain, a safe place of beauty and joy for those with dreams that default to the tyranny of the urgent.

Simply said, intangible sensory experiences of compassion and hope permeate every room and corridor and hall of this building like a sweet perfume, and then it partners with the wafting fragrance of imported tea. Laughter is our over-the-counter medication, and reading the New Testament is critical mental therapy.

Those who work here do so with a sense of peace, purpose, and calm assured that they are valued and respected and appreciated.  Our interaction is a steady witness and invitation to respond more fully to the call of the Lord in our lives.

What a rare privilege it is for us all to experience faith in the unseen and to see, often without proof, that our obedience is the measure of our faith.

Last Wednesday morning, the House teemed with an almost chaotic energy. On one side of the retail space, our silver, metallic blue, and purple Christmas tree sparkled in the sunlight piercing the gaps in the wood blinds. But, across the room, pumpkins, scarecrows, and fall leaves adorned the shelves. Debbie, our operations manager, two volunteers, and all the ladies hustled to convert our usually calm and peaceful space into a bustling holiday cornucopia of Christmas gifts and goodies.

In the midst of all this, we held a workshop.

Rebecca Arendt, Executive Director of The Iris Collective, Katie Hook, the Operations and Production Manager, and Marcin Arendt, a brilliant violinist, visited the House to lead a Six Word Story workshop. The Iris Collective is performing a concert at Sweet LaLa’s on October 22^nd to highlight the mission and work of Thistle and Bee, Bluff City Toffee, and us. The musical selections for the concert are chosen to represent the organizations, so the workshop was designed to help The Iris Collective better understand who we are.

The concept of the Six Word Story may seem odd. It is derived from a genre known as Flash Fiction. Maybe the most famous one is misattributed to Ernest Hemingway and first appeared in print in 1906. The story read:

“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

The idea is that words have power and a poignant, captivating story can be told by choosing the right words.

To accommodate the abundance of Christmas gifts, the table we normally meet around was occupied, so everyone gathered in the kitchen. A few sat, but most stood, and none of us expected what came next.

Each one was given a card and asked to tell their story in six words. The words could be drafted as a sentence, a phrase, or each could stand apart from the others. Once the stories were written, the author would read her story, and Marcin would retell the story through his violin.

The first story read:

“Again, she failed. She tried again.”

The wise woman who wrote those words explained to the group,

“In spite of your life seeming to be a series of failures, you have to try again…I don’t have the option of just laying down and dying. I’ve got to try again regardless of how I feel.”

Marcin paused for a moment, readied his instrument, and played a series of notes that captured the near resignation of failing over and over, but then it arced with sounds and rhythms of persistence and determination. On cue, a chorus of nodding heads agreed that his interpretation was on point.

Another storyteller wrote:

“Jesus. Poverty. Self-sufficient. Bringing community back.”

The words alone evoked “ahs,” “mmhms,” and “yeses.” Then Marcin played and the tears welled-up in our eyes.

For the next few minutes, the ladies shared their stories with common themes of trusting God, brokenness to redemption, sisterhood, love, peace, and happiness. Marcin captured every sentiment beautifully. The ladies embraced throughout, and we all cried some more.

We’ve written many times about the chaos that often exists in the lives of the women we serve outside of the tranquility and compassion experienced at the House. Murder, addiction, fear, and hopelessness are familiar to every woman that comes to My Cup of Tea.

Metaphorically, the swirl that greeted us at the House that morning, like the “swirl” in the lives of the My Cup of Tea women, consumed our senses and distracted us from our true purpose. But in those few moments spent reflecting on our journeys and listening to the stories of changed lives, each of us was reminded of our blessings and the One who sustains us all.  

And that is music to our ears.

“The Lord will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the Lord.” – Isaiah 38:20

Since we began emailing a newsletter, we have written more than 200 unique blog posts. We've shared posts about many different aspects of tea, upcoming events and opportunities to support us, and, of course, the daily lives of the My Cup of Tea ladies.

When we launched our present website, most, but not all, blogs we had written made it onto the new platform. The new platform allowed us to track the number of times someone reads a specific blog. This made us curious about which posts generated the most interest, so we thought we would share them with you.

In the number one spot by far is The Magic of Green Tea. This informative blog post addresses all of the health benefits associated with green tea and how to enjoy it hot or cold. This post was read more than 8,000 times!

Perfect for the season and on the heels of National Chai Day, our second most-read blog is What is Chai? Like the post about green tea, this blog shares the origins of chai, explains its make up, and discusses how to best enjoy the ancient beverage. 

We struck rang in a New Year with the post We are the Resolute. This piece describes the journey of the ship The Resolute from warship to White House desk and the parallels to those who work at My Cup of Tea.

Learning about how the My Cup of Tea ladies were coping with the loss of fresh water following a major winter storm caught the interest of our readers. Water Water Everywhere comes in at number 4 in popularity.

Blogs with a "how to" them take the next three spots. The Ultimate Guide to Switching from Daily Coffee to Tea, 5 Teas That Help with Relaxation, and How to Make the Perfect Iced Tea garnered more than 1000 reads each.

Just in time for Halloween, our Spooky Mocktails post featuring links to a She Steeps video with Cheryl and Danyelle demonstrating the recipes delighted readers. Hopefully, it lead to some spooky fun too.

In the ninth and tenth places are two blogs offering insight to the struggles of My Cup of Tea women. In Poverty about More than Money, we explore why just having a job and a paycheck is not enough to lead someone out of poverty. And in Kintsugi: Embracing the Damage, we describe how we used an ancient Japanese artform to help the ladies process their trauma.

We are so grateful for all of you who read our blog and newsletters. For those of you who subscribed recently, we hope you enjoy these "new reads." For those who have been with us for a while, we hope these posts serve as a reminder of facts, recipes, and stories you may have forgotten.

We’re just 5 days away from the deadline for professional, Black artists to submit portfolios for a chance to be chosen to design our next limited-edition tea box. We thought this might be a good time to remind you why we care so much about the arts and especially Black artists. So we’re republishing a revised version of this blog from a couple of years ago.

If you read our blog or follow us on social media, you have likely seen various references to artistic endeavors we have, or are currently, pursuing. The tea box design contest, Kintsugi, sewing, refurbishing furniture, embroidery and the art-covered walls of The House are all examples of how we include exposure to and support of art in our daily tasks. But why? How does support for the arts help My Cup of Tea achieve its mission?

Here are 5 reasons we are intentional about incorporating art into strategy to improve the lives of Orange Mound women:

1. Arts are critical for community revitalization

As we told you in a blog post in June of 2021, there is broad agreement in the community development arena that art is essential to revitalizing a community. As a Princeton University working paper put it,

“The arts revitalize neighborhoods and promote economic prosperity. Participation in the arts improves physical and psychological well-being. The arts provide a catalyst for the creation of social capital and the attainment of important community goals.”

Bill Strickland, an activist and founder of the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild in inner-city Pittsburg argued in an NPR TED Radio Talk that exposure to beauty is critical to community change. He says whether music, painting, sculpting or dance, engaging with beauty on a consistent basis changes vocabularies, behaviors, and raises expectations for what is possible for the community to a new level.

Doing our part to help revitalize the once thriving Orange Mound neighborhood has always been a part of our mission, and therefore so is supporting the arts.

2. Creativity is important to health and healing

Referencing the trauma My Cup of Tea women have experienced is something we do often. We want you to better understand how remarkable it is they have survived and are making progress toward thriving. Overcoming that trauma is a process that can take many years. We pray together, recommend professional help, and incorporate art in our activities, like our  Kintsugi classes about which we’ve written.

"Creativity in and of itself is important for remaining healthy, remaining connected to yourself and connected to the world." Christianne Strang, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Alabama Birmingham and the former president of the American Art Therapy Association told NPR in a 2020 interview.

The benefits are not limited to a single type of art, but extend to drawing, painting, knitting, cake decorating and a nearly unlimited list of possibilities. Participating in art can be healing for those coping with trauma but can also enhance well-being of those generally mentally and emotionally healthy.

3. Black artists are historically underrepresented

In 2019, a study was conducted by a group of mathematicians, statisticians, and art historians at Williams College together with Kevin M. Murphy, senior curator of American and European Art at Williams College Museum of Art, and Steven Nelson, professor of African and African American Art at UCLA, as reported by the digital news source, Hyperallergic. The study found that in 18 of the nation’s major museums, 85% of the artists represented are white and 87% are men.

We didn’t know about this study when we launched the tea box design contest last year, but anecdotally, we knew that there were Black artists doing amazing work who are virtually unknown. It is also true that Orange Mound is arguably the oldest African American neighborhood in the United States. We believed then, and now, that a Black artist was best positioned to represent the story of Orange Mound in the art for the tea box.

After a successful 2021 contest where we chose Andre’ Miller to create the art for our new tea box, we made the contest an annual event. The rules and rewards are the same, and the deadline is September 15^th for artists to submit a portfolio. If you know of someone who might be interested, please share this link: Tea Box Design Contest Entry.

4. Art helps imagine a more hopeful future

Overcoming trauma and poverty requires hard work and perseverance, but it also necessary to believe that a better future is possible. This is true of any of us facing a daunting task or a discouraging season in life. Art is one of the ways we can manage those feelings of despair and doubt and look to better days.

Dr. Girija Kaimal at Drexel University is an art therapy researcher who works with patients suffering with PTSD. Dr. Kaimal told NPR that she believes the brain is a predictive “machine” that uses information to decide what we will do next and what we need to do to survive and thrive in the future.

"This act of imagination is actually an act of survival," she says. "It is preparing us to imagine possibilities and hopefully survive those possibilities."

5. Art is a gift from God

How many photos on social media do we see from all over the world of magnificent sunsets, sunrises, or rainbows? How often have the world’s most renowned artists depicted the stars, planets, and the moon? Creation alone is the ultimate artwork by the ultimate Artist.

Throughout the Bible, the harp, lyre, flute, tambourine, singers – the art of music- are called for worshipping God.

In I Kings 6, King Solomon builds the temple according to God’s commands. It included intricate artwork such as carvings “with gourds and open flowers,” entire areas overlaid with pure gold, a pair of cherubim approximately 15 feet tall each made from olive wood and overlaid with gold, and carvings of palm trees and cherubim in the doors to the temple. These are a few of the detailed works that were included in the temple design.

Clearly, we have been blessed with the gift of art, so we desire to incorporate it in our daily lives.

Conclusion

As we said before, “beyond this single project, we envision future opportunities to empower and promote Black artists annually. Emphasizing the beauty and talent that exists in this historic community is essential to support its rebirth,” and the rebirth of the women we serve.

Retired Shelby County Commissioner Reginald Milton, commenting in the Commercial Appeal on the opening of the Orange Mound Gallery may have said it best.

“Art is a way to express our fears, our passions, our concerns, our anger. Art is unique, it is a gift from God to humans.”

  My Cup of Tea Mission:

Our mission is to walk with women beyond the boundaries of poverty and
neglect and assist them in building stable lives. We transform lives by providing
meaningful employment packaging and selling tea, nurturing cross-cultural,
trusting relationships, fostering respect and understanding, and prioritizing and
demonstrating authentic community with the women we serve and our
neighbors in Orange Mound.

Succinct mission statements are understandably necessary for a nonprofit mission such as ours, but required brevity belies the breadth and depth of our work.

When our son was in the first grade, he was asked to share with his classmates what his dad does for a living. He confidently reported,

“My Daddy cuts roses at work and brings them home to Mom."

His dad’s other job was owning and directing a paving company that built and maintained interstate highways.   

I recently realized that many who are connected to My Cup of Tea aren’t fully aware of our daily activities and how we fulfill our mission. We do more than sell excellent tea. I have compiled a short list here, so that you may be more conversant about our daily ebb and flow and more alert to the fundamental dependence we have on the several hundred generous people who give time talent and treasure to us.

 Our Philosophy

The House is a laboratory in which we are intentionally loving Orange Mound women through invested word and deed. Daily for about 12 years, two disparate cultures have been conscientiously connecting. We have galvanized an authentic sisterhood of support, friendship, and trust.

Single parenting in poverty for a Black woman in a crime-ridden zip code is unfamiliar to us who are living North, East, and West beyond the crime tape and ubiquitous sirens that assault our senses when we are here.

Only God has brought us to this genuine reflection of His Kingdom we call The House in Orange Mound where what we have in common in heart has replaced our shallow differences.

 Our Daily Activity

• We work exclusively with women who live in poverty in Orange Mound. Almost all are single parenting children and/or grandchildren.
• We do not recruit as women in need find us or hear through word of mouth that our door is open and the welcome mat is out.
• We daily intend to model and guide each woman to a deeper understanding of the Gospel. All are currently unchurched and inexperienced in the riches of the Bible.
• Most of our employees receive government assistance. We are committed to reduce that percentage.
• Cooking, gardening, cleaning, and other domestic activity is demonstrated, shared, and assigned.
• Respectful social communication and problem solving is constantly practiced.
• There is an emphasis on gaining a Christian world view, as most are underexposed to life beyond their primary and immediate priority of survival.
• All of the women have chosen mentors who are leveraging their broader network for solutions to problems and providing prayer, advice, and loyal friendship.
• We have hired over 100 women in the ten years we have been a business. Currently we have 11 employees.
• Over 50 volunteers work among us, bring lunch, and assist us in entrepreneurship training for the ladies who are growing in skills beyond their My Cup of Tea employment.
• We advocate for all of our women who are challenged significantly with sub-standard rentals, domestic violence, chronic poor health, legal and financial problems, and unreliable transportation.
• We have partnered to build 4 houses on our city block and provided financial and legal pathways for the ladies to qualify to purchase them.

Our Tea

• Our tea is top shelf, imported from the Far East and blended before it comes to us. 
• Our director is a tea master, and expert on all variables of the teas we import.
• Our marketing and development is in the capable hands of a genius.
• The ladies have simple but dignified jobs with minimal skill requirements to package and label it for sale.
• We sell our tea in all 50 states.
• Our tea is sold in 24 retail businesses locally and at The House.
• The Christmas Season is our busiest. Original and creative tea gifts are extremely popular and our top sellers.
• We were chosen as Google’s Tennessee Small Business of the Year.
• We operate our mission for the ladies on tea sales (40%) and the remaining 60% is based on grants and donations.

 We also grow roses and bring them home for ourselves.