“I am addicted to coffee, and I might as well admit it. Hello, my name is Mandy, and I have an addiction. I know what you may be thinking…So what – a lot of people like coffee. But let me tell you, if you drink 2-3 cups a day, you are not addicted. Addicted is drinking an entire pot on your own and wondering, Who drank all the coffee??

I used to work as a barista in a coffee shop, which is like putting an addict in charge of the meth supply, and it gave me lots of time to think about coffee and one of my other passions, the church. The different blends are about as diverse as my customers. In the middle of making cinnamon cappuccinos and dark roast lattes and coffee frappes and chai smoothies, I began to think, if Christianity is like coffee, the American choices are as vast as the selection in a five-star coffee shop. Some people know exactly what brand they want. Some have no clue. Some people seem to make it harder than it needs to be. (“I’d like one 20 oz. latte, with two shots regular espresso, one shot decaf, raspberry syrup with half the raspberry and soy milk steamed to 150.”) Some just want the traditional, small, black cup of Joe. Some want decaf so they can have the taste of coffee without the caffeine. Some want theirs loaded with sugar.

Is there diverse psychology in the way people take their morning java? Maybe.

Sometimes you just want caffeine. And sometimes it’s just fun to talk about coffee, tea and holy water.”

Coffee, Tea and Holy Water is based on a trip the author took to five countries around the world, Brazil, Wales, Tanzania, China and India, to share thoughts and perspectives about Christianity around the globe. Hudson is a writer and world traveler living in Nashville, Tenn.

Read more about the author, Mandy Hudson.