Why Tea In A Hectic World?

by Bruce Richardson

Everyone is searching for time these days. "With the rush most Americans are in, even if Moses was on the news for the 10 Commandments, Dan Rather would go on the air and boil it down to the four main stories," says Matthew Felling, media director for the Center for Media and Public Affairs in Washington.

Marketing gurus, always eager to find the pulse of America's fast-paced families, have recently brought out the newest breakfast time saver - Breakfast Mates. These single-serving cellophane-wrapped bowls include cereal, spoon and milk. What a time-saving idea! It should shave at least 5 seconds off your breakfast preparation time (assuming your child can open the cellophane wrapper).

Unfortunately, we all get swept up in the frenetic rush to move faster. Like birds feeding their chirping chicks, we toss McDonald's French fries to our hungry children in the back seat of the car as we speed down to another ball game. We impatiently press the elevator door close button if we can't bear to wait the four seconds allotted by Mr. Otis to shut the door behind us.

Most annoying to this writer are the countless cell phones addicts who don't take the time to find a quiet place to carry on their conversations, thus sentencing everyone in earshot to listen to their boring conversations. Spare me your jingling phones and intruding watch alarms! If I am at a concert or in church and want to know what time it is, I'll look at my own watch.

"This is a perennial theme," says Dr. David Shi, a cultural historian and president of Furman University. "From ancient times, people have dreamed about and struggled to achieve a simpler life, only in most cases to fail." He loves to tell the story about the young woman who nearly knocked him down on campus one day. She yelled back over her shoulder: "I'm sorry! I'm late for my relaxation class!"

It seems as though the tea world is paddling upstream against an ever-increasing current of time-saving incursions. Alas, that may be tea's lasting allure. Why are more and more people turning to the way of tea?

It may be because tea commands our time and attention. We must wait for the kettle to boil. The leaf then makes us wait another five minutes to brew properly. We pour the mystical liquid into a cup and again wait a moment before our lips can drink it its refreshment. During this time our breathing quiets and our pulse returns to normal. We may have a gentle conversation with our family or friends. It is in these moments that our souls are refreshed and we become more human. The cup of serenity performs its magic and, refreshed, we hesitate to move back into the fast lane of society's speedway.

Other articles by Bruce Richardson:

White Tea - Infused With Healthy Appeal

High Tea or Afternoon Tea?

Making Good Tea

Seeing London with Tea on the Mind

Jane Pettigrew: London's First Lady of Tea

When You Don't Know Beans About Tea

Darjeeling: Tea by Any Other Name Would Not Be As Sweet