The Parable of the Tea

The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto the preparation of a cup of tea.

Here's how you make a good, rich, satisfying and mature cup of tea. Read carefully:

--Get a teacup.
--Put boiling hot water in the teacup
--Put the tea bag (or tea leaves) in the teacup.
--Move the tea bag (or leaves) around in the hot water so as to thoroughly saturate and heat the tea.
--The tea will "bleed," infusing the hot water with its flavor and color, saturating the hot water with its response to the environment around it.
--Taking the tea bag/leaves out of the hot water too soon will reduce its influence on its environment.

So. How do you respond to being in hot water? And who are you to judge the timing at which you should be lifted out?