Why We Coffee

I spend a lot of money at coffee shops- probably too much money, and you know what? So do all my friends- even the ones who don’t like coffee.

What is it about a coffee shop to a 20-something-year-old that makes it so special? Why do we ‘coffee?’

I’m one of those people that basically pays rent to a local coffee shop that I go to. I’m here all the time, and each time I go, it’s a $2 - $5 out of my pocket, depending on what I order. Some would say that’s a poor use of my money and time, and that’s why I’m writing this post- to process why a person, like myself, would pay money to have an experience they could essentially have for free.

As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in a crowded room full of strangers in an old bucket chair from the 1970’s while Creedance Clearwater Revival’s ‘Fortunate Son’ plays over the house speakers. I’ve just finished my second cup of drip coffee, and I’ve got the caffeine shakes. Somehow, this whole experience is lightyears ahead of the experience I would be having at my own house where I could practically be doing the exact same thing for free. So, I pay to have this experience here. At a coffee shop. Where I can’t take my shoes off, where I can’t ‘make myself at home’ and where I may or may not have the best wifi or seating option. 

It’s not just me that’s paying for this experience either- it’s families. Right now, there’s a mom, dad, son and daughter all sharing one couch together, drinking the beverage of their choice and pointing out the art on the walls and talking about it. It’s an experience for them. They could probably spend time together at home and do the same thing for free, but instead they chose to spend $15 - $20 to come here instead. Why?

Here are some questions on my mind:

• Why do we spend hours at these places every single week?
• Why are we spending money on an experience that we don’t need to spend money on?
• Is it the music? The lighting? The seating? The decorations? The coffee itself?
• What makes these places so different than making a cup of a coffee at home and doing work there?

Whenever I go into a coffee shop and sit down to work, my mind goes into another world. My creativity increases, I’m way more aware of my surroundings, and I can reflect on things more clearly than a mirror that just got a fresh Windex treatment. Surely, it can’t just be because of the caffeine? I can’t do this in other places; I’ve tried. Whether it’s at work in the office, at home on the couch or outside in nature, nothing seems to be able to get my mind to the level it’s at in these shops that simply serve a hot, black beverage that tastes terrible to some and like manna to others. I’ve had people tell me that doesn’t make sense- that coffee shops aren’t really that special, and maybe they aren’t to everyone. But to me and others, they are.

These are truths:

Coffee shops are places of community. People come to them to meet with other people and commune.
Coffee shops are places of art. Every single one has a unique vibe, unique art and a unique clientele. 
Coffee shops serve an ancient beverage. Coffee has been around for ages, and it’s always been a drink that people can receive and experience together.
Coffee shops are successful. There’s a reason cities can support multiple coffee businesses.

So, why do we coffee? Lots of reasons I’m sure- Lots of reasons that I don’t know and that I’m not mentioning. But if I were to try to answer that question with an answer that isn’t one of ‘the third place’ nature, it would be this:

We coffee because we want to experience the kind of rare and unique community that has been experienced for thousands of years in a place that inspires us and surrounds us with other people facing the same kind of life that we ourselves are experiencing. 

One day, I want to own one of these places that people spend a third of their week in. One day, I want to create a space that lets people come in as they are and experience a sense of community, all the while getting to know each and every person that comes in. I want it to be unique- tree house seating options available outside the building. I want it to be a place where social barriers crumble- diversity is a must. I want it to bring life- a place that sparks creativity and a place that someone actually wants to be themselves. 

Hopefully that dream can come true someday, and hopefully that dream comes true in a place that has yet to experience coffee because then they’ll know why we coffee.

-Cliff

Cliff’s Note: We don’t coffee for the coffee; we coffee for the coffee. 

So You've Found Your 'Calling;' Now What?

On the kitchen wall of the family's home I live in here in Australia reads this verse from Ephesians 4:

"Live a life worthy of the calling you've received."

If only it were that easy (sigh). It's always easier said than done.

If finding and answering my calling in life was as easy as finding and answering the calls on my iPhone, life would be easy. Unfortunately though, we can't pick life up in one hand and swipe it to the right in order to discover what's next. It usually takes lots of prayer, thought, obedience and more prayer. There's just something about finding life's 'calling' that all people strive for. We all want to love our careers and be able to explore our passions and share those passions with others in order to make some sort of a difference in the world. It's something I've thought about and prayed for a lot, especially since I've graduated college and begun to travel more and broaden my world view. Since then, God has been faithful, and I believe He's shown me my calling in life, but now that He has, what's next and what do I from here? That's the question.

I believe a lot of our calling's come from our backgrounds and upbringings. If we have past experiences that have had negative or positive impacts on our lives, we're more likely to develop passions in those areas that develop into callings and desires to help fix those problems or improve those impacts through justice and reconciliation. For example, if a person has experienced a chronic illness, they are probably highly likely to have an interest in helping cure that illness and helping those dealing with that illness. This isn't always the case, but in my case, it held true. 

I have a passion and a calling to build community. I have a burning desire to see communities come together and be transformed through the Church. It's my passion to network not just church leaders, but also community leaders together to bring unity and transformation to towns, cities and states. I want to do this by:

• writing and telling stories in an effort to change culture and
• casting vision as to why and how congregations can serve those in need
• creating conversations on key issues with key leaders
• developing relationships with leaders with the goal of serving them in their call to love their cities

As of now, I have no idea how the Lord is going to work this calling out that He's laid on my heart, but I'm confident that if He's behind, He's going to provide the answers and the resources. I come from a background of communities with many churches, and I truly believe God brought me up in those environments to help establish this calling in my life. As the saying goes:

"Our past doesn't define us, but it shapes us into who we are."

God is doing a work in His people right now to stir a sense of togetherness, and I feel led to serve in that work in whatever way He calls me to. I believe in the power of unity and in the prayer Jesus prayed hours before He was crucified when He prayed that we, His followers, would be one, as He and the Father are One, so that the world may know Him (John 17). 

I write this not to boast in a calling, but to ask for help and guidance with this calling. I write this as an encouragement to anyone else who is exploring their calling and at a loss for what's next. Pray, seek counsel and seek vision from others. We must keep pursuing our passions, stewarding the gift's He's given us well and believing that the Lord is indeed with us and has gone before us. A 'calling' isn't always a job or a career; sometimes it's just doing the thing that you love to do and sharing that thing with others. If you want to be a writer, blog. If you want to be an athlete, go play pick-up games with friends. If you want to be a musician, play with your church worship band. Pursue passion.  

As I said earlier, I'm still praying and seeking what these next steps are with the calling I've received. I would love anyone's help, support or vision if you have any insight, thoughts or ideas (or if you share the same passion that would be amazing too), so please comment or get in touch with me if you have anything you'd like to share. We can grab a cup of coffee or have a FaceTime session. As for now, I'll continue to fill auto part orders in a warehouse in Adelaide, Australia knowing that I am where I am now for a reason and that it is only preparing me for something more in the future. 

-Cliff

Cliff's Note: Don't try to change the world, but instead find something you love to do and do it every day. Through that and the passion that comes from that, the world will change.