May 16, 2016

“That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Genesis 32:22-28

I always enjoy a good cup of coffee. In particular, I have become very fond of a Cafe Americano. Now, the origin of the Americano is interesting as told to me by a barista many years ago. The classic definition of the “Cafe Americano (shortened from Italian: caffè Americano or American Spanish: café Americano, literally American coffee) is a style of coffee prepared by brewing espresso with added hot water, giving it a similar strength to, but different flavor from, drip coffee. The strength of an Americano varies with the number of shots of espresso and the amount of water added.” There is a popular, but unconfirmed, belief that the name Cafe Americano has its origins in World War II when American G.I.s in Italy would dilute espresso with hot water. This allowed them to drink coffee that was more similar to the coffee they were accustomed to drinking at home — thus the name “Americano”. It was named after soldiers who were struggling to not only stay alive, but maintain some attachment to home.

Sometimes a name has more meaning than “we don’t know what else to call you.” The story of Jacob is a good example. It isn’t as if Jacob is unknown within his family and community. He is a man with a reputation for being cunning, if not shrewd. And so, when G-d changes his name, it carries more importance than “another name to remember.” This name speaks to his character, if not his origin — Jacob, or Israel, is a man who struggles his entire life.

Tell me, or think about this: what you are struggling with today? Over the years, I have found myself struggling with people who lack good communication skills. It seems to be endemic in my family, my church life, and my community. We have so many tools today to communicate with one another, and yet it seems people are talking past one another — or refuse to listen to one another. I guess we could all be renamed Israel since we all struggle with humans — especially we struggle with what it means to be American and who fits that name any more.

I have come to believe that all of us should force ourselves to sit at a table with those whom we struggle, pour some Cafe Americanos, and allow each other to speak and especially to listen to one another. If we don’t struggle to understand one another, then this life will continue to be more of a struggle than it needs to be.

Pastor Dave