On Holy Ground at St. Arbucks

I have a new post up at Out of Ur- here's a sample and a link there...

 

 

Like many pastors I know, I have a love/hate relationship with Starbucks.

For seven years now, as I have labored to plant, grow, and guide a church, Starbucks has been my office, my meeting space, my cafeteria, and my retreat. I’m there most work days, and I’m even there most days off to get some reading or writing time in away from the house.

Yeah—if Starbucks disappeared, I’d notice.

As with anything, though, familiarity breeds contempt. The thousands of hours I have spent in Starbucks locations all over the Portland Metro area have left me feeling at times that I’d rather be anywhere else.Please, Lord, not another day on hard wooden chairs, sipping burnt-tasting coffee, and wondering when the employees will notice the BEEP-BEEP-BEEP of the safe that sets my teeth on edge every 20 minutes as it tells them it’s time to make another deposit...

And yet, week after week, I return. Occasionally I try new places, but nothing has ever stuck. Despite a certain weariness with the place, the convenience of Starbucks, the free Wi-Fi, and the ease with which I can meet people there all conspire to draw me back week after week.

But something else draws me back there. At times Starbucks has been more than a coffee shop for me. Much more...

 

Read the rest here...

 

Comments

[matt]

my old AOL dial-up is faster than the wi-fi in Starbucks.

I live in San Diego and I can still find better indie shops than Starbucks. You live in Portland, be a hipster, go to Stumptown. :)

[Jen W]

Hey Bob, I'm pretty sure the beeping is telling them to brew new coffee, not deposit money in the safe.

[Alan Briggs]

I agree on the Starbucks 'sticking' in your life. I have experienced a definite community that varies from store to store. I have experienced better possibilities of ministering to the baristas than any of the folks hanging out there. Would you agree?

Press on Bob!

[Jen W]

Having been one of these baristas for a long time I think the ministry opportunities are there. I did make a lot of friends who were customers, who invited me to all sorts of interesting things such as t'ai chi and Torah studies, and it didn't feel weird because a coffee shop is kind of like an academic setting - people discuss cerebral things and you get told everyone's life stories.