Deep Freeze

Once again, the weather is making the news in February. To be more specific, cold temps are the center of attention here in the United States. It would seem as though this would be easy money time in the coffee industry, right? People are cold, wind chills are up, a good cup of something hot is just what the doctor ordered… or not. Every February at our roasting company is a dead month, and all of our coffee shop customers tell us that their shops are empty, too. Even the coffee bar we run at church dies during the shortest month.

It made no logical sense to me, and bothered me a great deal at first.  But then I realized that it was extremely logical – from a certain perspective. Such as the air being so cold that it hurts your face (or the inside of your nose, or whichever cliché you prefer). When that happens, all of us stop going anywhere that isn’t completely necessary, and we only go to those places when they are really necessary, like when we have no food in the house. So we give up the pain…and the hot beverages that would take away that pain.

Don’t we do that in the rest of our lives, as well? I know I often do; I get hurt by a situation, a friend’s words, a perception I have of someone else’s behavior, and I avoid those people. If I feel badly enough, I avoid all people. Instead of talking about it, I stop talking at all. I freeze people out, freeze up, let the relationship grow cold. I could go on, but I think you get the picture.  You might even recognize it, or be able to admit that you have your own. And you might know someone else who has done that to you. You may know why, you may not. But you know that something has gone cold between you and someone you love. So you avoid them back. And the very thing that would make it better is the thing you do without. Just like coffee (or tea, or hot chocolate, or whatever you like to drink) in February. Don’t do it! I don’t want to anymore! I think I am going to try to grab a cup, brave the bitter cold, enjoy getting the feeling back in my toes…and my relationships. I hope you’ll join me!