I was recently given an invitation to join a group of highly dedicated people. They meet regularly and have a wide variety of interests pertaining to their particular subject.
The invitation came from one of the speakers of an upcoming meeting so I thought, ‘”Wow! I will be accepted as an equal, allowed to share in their knowledge, develop an interest and graduate to comment on what is said or done.” My heart skipped a beat.
However, my enthusiasm was cut very short. The ‘you can join’ was followed by the qualification – ‘as the tea-lady.’ No equality, no participation, don’t bother to have an opinion, just be there to provide tea for the elite.
The door was shut and banged my face as it went past.
Securely back in my place, securely secluded, I licked my wounds and found myself laughing at my own impudence for thinking I was anything but a tea-lady. It was then that I found I was being laughed with – not at. Somebody was beside me laughing, indeed guffawing. When He could catch His breath and speak intelligently He said something I paraphrase for you:
‘To shame the wise, I have chosen the foolish tea-ladies to debase entrenched misunderstandings. I have chosen the world’s least admired people for My speakers. They are without rank or standing in the world, mere nothings, and they will overthrow the self-appointed elite.’
The original is a bit different to my paraphrase but when you are a tea-lady, you learn that your new guffawing Friend knows how to level the playing field. So watch the play and learn from the tea-lady.
‘Yet, to shame the wise, God has chosen what the world counts folly, and to shame what is strong, God has chosen what the world counts weakness.’ (1st Corinthians 1:27).
Anyone for tea and scones this morning?
By Just a Minute team writer Elizabeth Price. You can contact Elizabeth direct at mailto:reprice@dragnet.com.au