A Snapshot of Understanding

The tension had been building. Oh, it was subtle to an untrained eye but we both knew it was there. Petty quibbles about policy, schedules, or structure. They had become tedious and both of us had enough. We weren’t friends, just acquaintances working together. Truthfully I don’t think we desired to be friends with one another, we were just too different. But we had to iron some things out, the chain of command needed to be understood and it needed to happen soon. A neutral place where neither one of us could lose control and where we both could feel some measure of comfort. And the perfect place came to me in an instant – Starbucks.

I went, ready for battle. I am sure my opponent was preparing for battle as well. This wasn’t a friendly little chat over coffee. We both had something to prove. Halfway to Starbucks, as I am praying, a voice interrupts mine.
“Beth?”
“Yes, God?”
“Why don’t you go in love instead of prepared for war? Help her to see some things. Show her, don’t tell her.”
“But God…”
“No buts. Be the peacemaker, this doesn’t have to be a war.” (Author Ken Sandee says, "The more you engage another's heart and the less you declare his or her wrongs, the more likely he or she is to listen to you." -The Peacemaker, page 175)
“Well okay, if you think that’s what I should do.” (Is it me or is the sarcasm and disbelief in my voice thicker than a pot of badly brewed coffee?)
Oddly, God’s idea gave me a lot more peace than my own battle plan had been giving me. So I got to Starbucks with a totally different plan. I secured a table for two, set my notebook down, and got my Chai Latte. She arrived, ordered her coffee, and looked at me.

I took a deep breath and asked if before we started with her lengthy list could I please begin by explaining a few things? She agreed and I began. This is where I faded out of the picture all together and God intervened. I don’t really know what all came out of my mouth but I do know it was all directed by God. After I finished she just sat there and said, “Well, that helped.” Okay. Now we are getting somewhere. So I asked her to go down her list and we would discuss each question or concern in detail until understanding was reached. Do you think we had to cover her whole list? Of course not!

We ended the night in laughter, sharing each other’s hearts concerning this ministry we were both involved in together and sharing ideas for how to improve things. I walked out of Starbucks that night with a new friend and a new ally in the ministry. God’s battle plan was so successful that it sticks with me all these years later. My new friend and I went on to minister together for a couple of years in the same capacity and then God stretched us and had us minister together in a new capacity for a season. We both point back to that night in Starbucks as the turning point, when we both allowed God to intervene and do what needed to be done. God knew I needed to learn to trust his battle plan and not my own and I needed to learn that conflict could be a healthy thing when he is in the midst of it.
And he did it all over a cup of coffee.

An Invitation

It is an unobtrusive corner, a wingback chair is my current companion. I am waiting for a friend. And as I wait, I quietly observe the sights, smells, and sounds of “my” coffee house. The rich, robust coffee permeates the air and swirls around me. It invades my senses and I breathe deep. Few smells have the power to relax me in such a way but this is one of them. It is quiet at the moment. The evening rush hasn’t occurred yet and I notice that two others are waiting as well. There is only one girl working tonight and as I wait she brings me a glass of ice water with a kind smile. This kind of courtesy is missing today so I am touched by her thoughtfulness. Light jazz is playing throughout the house. Although I know none of the songs I am put at ease. It has been a stressful day. I juggle many things and God knows I need this coffee house as a place of refuge if only for a few moments.

Finally my friend arrives. Another mom who leads a stressful life like I do, who relates to me as we share our stories of the day. We go up to order. An iced latte for me, yes to the whipped cream! A piece of Boston Crème pie for her and a Coke on ice. We head back to our wingback chairs and a bit of “silence”. No toddlers, no husbands, no television just soft jazz and coffee. We chat about nothing and everything. Most of it has no meaning but hidden in between the lines are tidbits of frustration shared, victories won, and the unconditional love we hold for our families. The two hours fly by and we are left with nowhere to go but home. So we go. And as I walk back in the door to the chaos of my life I am refreshed and energized to do it all over again.

My time at the coffee house can be like my relationship with God. Sometimes I just sit and wait in some corner. I quietly observe the sights, smells, and sounds that accompany Who he is. His fragrance invades my heart and I breathe deep. He puts a quiet song in my mind to relax me. He is always faithful, always willing to provide a quiet place for me to regroup. A time to gain his perspective on my busy days. Sometimes I chat with him about nothing but most of the time I chat with him about everything.

So grab a cup of coffee, or tea if you prefer, I invite you to listen in on my coffee house conversations....