Christ and Coffee

While in collage, I often would say that all I need to survive the day is Jesus and coffee and oh how many days those two would pull me through my last minute papers and long days! I think most collage students understand the importance of coffee and as a student missionary serving with St. Paul's Outreach, I also tried to show university students the importance of having a relationship with Jesus and living that out in their daily life. It was very common for me to go out for coffee with different people I was reaching out to or friends who were needing some encouragement. Coffee became a kind of common ground in which we were able to share life over. As each cup of liquid comfort releases warm goodness into the air, our souls become entangled together along with the rich aroma each slowly rising like incense. From outside in, we are warmed head to toe not only with the cup of java, but with the love of Christ if we know it or not. I truly believe if we are able to slow down while drinking our cup of coffee to pray or recognize Christ around us, we will receive much more than just a quick rush of caffeine to kick start our day.

While working in Detroit, I was able to attend a Sunday morning Bible Study at Canticle Cafe part of St. Al's Outreach Center run by the Franciscan Friars in Downtown Detroit. More than 1500 people visit the outreach each week looking for a warm meal, new clothes, medical attention, shelter, and a bit of encouragement. Throughout the week, services are provided to the needy and homeless in downtown Detroit. Having worked at the center before, I was a little surprised to see so many people here for the Bible study even though no food or clothes were being given a way. This was an opportunity for those without a home or often even a Bible were able to hear the Word of God proclaimed while having an opportunity to share the way God has been working in their lives. I was very encouraged to see around 50 people gather around the tables in this small "cafe" sharing stories of ways in which God had worked in their life. Brother Ed, who led the study, had many stories to share about people just like them who had been transformed by the love of God. This was a place in which God was able to meet His people just where they were at. Of course coffee was being served, too!

It was while sitting in Canticle Cafe laughing with two women that I realized the power God had to bring people together through coffee. For those who don't believe, coffee being served often opens up doors for conversations about Christ. And for believers, they know that any good event or conversation about God should include coffee. Why else would we have coffee and donuts after church? Anyways, I remember looking around the room at those holding their cups of coffee while others were standing in line to fill their cups up. I remember a guy at the table behind me spilling his cup of coffee and another guy quickly grabbing paper towels to clean it up. All over the floor there were coffee spills, but it didn't seem to matter because that wasn't the purpose of why they were there. Through cups of coffee, I was able to see people show generosity to one another in ways that I don't think they usually do. I know that it seems like I am making something out of nothing, but in working with lots of different people over the years I have seen the ways that coffee can often lead to a simple act of kindness which can really change a persons day or eve life.

Here's one little story that Brother Ed shares: One Saturday morning on a cold winter day, Brother Ed was distributing coats at an outreach center. They had numbers for each of the men receiving coats because they didn't have enough coats for all the guys needing one. There was one large guy only wearing a sweat shirt who came in after all the numbers had been given out. He was furious that there weren't enough coats for him to have one. He started getting into a rage and yelling how he really needed a coat. This guy was desperate and often human beings become irrational when they are in desperate situations. Brother Ed was starting to get worried, and he wasn't sure what he was going to do. Another guy, number 49, came up to Brother Ed, and said, "Brother Ed, I want to give my number to this guy. He is really cold, and he needs a coat more than I do." Brother Ed told him that he wouldn't be able to get a coat if he gave his number a way, but the guy was more than willing to do so. Brother Ed then gave number 49 to the man in a rage who quietly accepted the number, chose his coat, and sat a little embarrassed along the wall. The man who gave up his chance to receive a coat walked over to the other man with a cup of coffee. Before long the two of them were sitting there roaring with laughter because they knew the same people from grade school. Before the day was over, a woman drove up with an SUV full of coats that she believed she was supposed to bring over to the outreach that day. Brother Ed called over the man who gave up his number to allow him to have his first choice of a new coat. I love when Brother Ed shares this story because it's an incredible story of generosity, small acts of kindness, God's faithfulness, and of course a common cup of coffee.

It's incredible that no matter what class, race, religion, or nationality you are in this country- a cup of coffee can be a common ground in which souls intermingle among the strong aroma of java. It helps me to see that in the different areas in which I have lived and served whether in the rich suburbs of Chicago, the collage campuses in St. Paul, or the streets of Detroit coffee is a common denominator for them all, and really we aren't as different as one may think because in God's eyes we are all the same!