I set up my mobile office at my usual desk in the local Starbucks. It is the table right across from where the barista gives you your drink when it has been prepared and right in front of where everyone doctors their caffein fix in a cup. I like this spot, because it causes me to pay attention to people. It is the only table in the place where people are continually in your space. I walked in on this particular morning longing to be a relationship initiator, but I could not seem to figure out how. I struck up a conversation with a mom holding her 14 month, but that went sour when I mistook her little girl for a little boy. She quickly grabbed her “triple tall whatever” and scurried away. Then I had a thought…
What if…
What if I could encourage everyone coming in without them actually knowing it was me?
Now I know that that is not me building relationships, but at least people would have some encouragement. So I devised my plan.
I walked up to Chad, the morning barista, and gave him my credit card. I discreetly asked him to let me take care of the next 10-20 people’s drinks that walked in the door.
I made sure to say to Chad, “Make sure that you don’t tell them who it is from.” “Ok Chad, can you do that?” He nodded happily and so began our encouragement event.
I buried myself in my laptop and threw in my ear buds (even though nothing was playing) to make myself completely discreet and unnoticeable. But I had not accounted for the fact that Chad was about to betray me. The first lady walks up to the counter and orders her Grande White Chocolate Mocha and pulls out her wallet. So far the plan was going well…Then Chad did it. He looked her in the eye and said with a loud booming voice, “YOUR DRINK HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BY THAT GENTLEMAN OVER THERE.” It was at this point that I actually turned on the music in my head as to not draw anymore attention.
At first I was furious with Chad. I wanted to punch Chad in the mouth so he could no longer speak. But then it happened. I met Tammy, a single mom from our community who was rushing to work in order to provide for her family. I met Larry, a programmer from our community who attends another church, but sat and talked for 15 min. with me about how incredible God is. Larry even called my cell phone later and left me a voice mail praying for me and our church. I met Krista and her little girl, whom I did not mistake for the wrong gender. One by one I began to meet person after person. I had walked in with the goal of meeting people, ditched that goal for another, and ended up back at what I had asked God to do.
Finally we got to talk. Chad was done with his shift and he walked over to my table and sat down. Turns out Chad is in seminary. Turns out he grew up in a really legalistic church and background. He shared with me his thoughts on scripture and the nature of Christ. He shared about his background and life. He shared about his desire for authentic community among believers. He shared about the JOY OF HIS SALVATION!!! I asked him, “Why did you rat me out to everyone this morning?” He looked at me with a huge grin on his face and said this, “I wanted to tell everyone. I wanted to tell them, because it was the first time in a long time I had seen scripture lived out. I wanted those that walk in here every morning with a horrible view of Christ and the church to know that maybe, just maybe Christ and the church were not as horrible as they might think. I told them so they could see Christ.”
I was floored. Chad, the guy that I see every morning, the guy that makes my tall quad shot americano with four splenda, used my simple act of generosity to evangelize all of Starbucks. There was a passion in his eyes when he spoke of it. There was a tenderness for the lost when he spoke of them. There was a JOY in his voice when he would tell every person that walked in that morning that Christ is alive and well and has covered your tab.
Thanks Chad for showing me that Christ can be seen through a simple cup of coffee…
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