The "Giving" Drink

Being the sometimes adventurous health-conscious individual I am, upon hearing about an increasingly popular home-brewed unique tea which has a reputation for being beneficial to your health, I decided to give it a try.Brewing it would not be easy though, for unlike most store-bought teas you can simply purchase at the local grocery store, this drink, known as "Kombucha," must be passed on from a friend. Let me explain.

Kombucha is a beverage which is typically made by fermenting common black tea and white sugar using a special Kombucha colony. It is this active culture which is first needed before you can brew the tastey drink which some people compare to tart apple cider. The culture, however, may only be obtained and utilized while it is live, and since each time a batch of Kombucha tea is prepared it produces a new culture, you must first find someone who is willing to share their new culture so that you can then make your own tea.

My ardent search for such a person took me to a popular auction web site on the Internet, but after the deal fell through, and I lost my money AND the Kombucha culture, I became discouraged, not knowing where else to turn. Then I met "Marjorie."

I found Marjorie's contact information from a site on the Internet which basically hooks up private Kombucha sellers with individual buyers. What intrigued me about Marjorie's ad was that it stated she offered Kombucha cultures for free! In fact, several of the sellers made note that they were so blessed by the acclaimed health benefits of the exotic drink, giving away an active Kombucha culture to someone who needed one was their way of giving back to society.

Sorry to say, I was somewhat suspicious, thinking that there must be some sort of catch as no one gives something for nothing these days. "The clincher must be in the shipping and handling," I thought. "They probably offer the product for free and then double up on the shipping expense!" 

That theory was blown to bits when Marjorie wrote me back saying there was no added or hidden costs, and any shipping charge would come out of her own pocket.

Now I was really baffled! Yes, I am a Christian who knows Christ taught us about the beauty of giving and receiving with a cheerful heart, but it had been such a long time since anyone had blessed me in this way that I suppose I had forgotten that there are still many good people in the world. Again Marjorie wrote, telling me not to worry, that everything I would need to brew my first batch of Kombucha would also be included in the package.  

No longer suspicious, but still in awe, I wrote Marjorie back to find out more about her gracious spirit of generosity towards a complete stranger.  With her permission, this is what she wrote:  "My husband and I have been blessed with many things and it's my way of giving back to people. We are not rich but I share what I do have. If I cannot afford it then I will ask for postage, but for now, it's my way of giving. It's just what I do. I guess you would call it a spiritual reason. My friend gave me my first one for nothing and shared graciously so I will do the same as long as I can. If I have as many requests in the future as I did this week I would be unable, but for now it's ok. Others that I could not repay have blessed me in my times of need so when I can do for others, I do it. You never know when a blessing will come back to you! When you give your first baby (Kambucha culture) away you will know the joy!"   

I don't know how to explain it, but Marjorie's good deed was as a bright ray of sunshine which rekindled what may have been my admittedly waning trust in mankind. How easy it is for us to begin to feel skeptical and cynical, especially when we hear so many reports of war, violence, and the declining morality of man on television and in the newspaper. Yet, as this kind gesture shows, God is still in control, and goodness still reigns supreme. We may need to be reminded now and then, and that is when God can and does work through the works and words of His children.

The story does not end there for it is in this same spirit of giving that God gave to mankind His Son so that we may have life more abundantly. He gave to us the ability to call out to the Divine; for forgiveness, comfort, praise and salvation. His gifts are free, and the only price to pay is the simple peace and joy making Him a part of your life will offer your heart.

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Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2003 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living Ecstatic Loving: How to have more peace and joy in marriage, and life in general by walking in harmony with God," and "Son Salutations: A refreshing collection of modern inspirations for those who seek God each day." For more information, visit her web page at www.angelfire.com/mi/melschurr