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10-07-09 (The Daily Grind)
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Stephanie McIver
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Oct 07, 2009 11:13 PDT
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Steph’s Stuff
10-07-09
(The Daily Grind)
I am loving the flexibility of having a very small, portable
computer—and I’ve been testing its limits by visiting various Wi-Fi
locations. There is something satisfying about sitting in a trendy
little café with a cup of really good coffee at my side. Today, I’m at
a new place, in the tiny town of Veneta. It’s called Robbie’s
Windowbox. It’s hidden in the back end of a shopping center and I never
would have found it except for the fact that a Face book friend
confessed that it was her new weakness. It’s tiny, but full of locals,
chattering away. They are swapping pie recipes, talking local gossip
and generally simulating the community I imagine happened back in the
day of the local coffee shop or general store. They eyed me curiously
when I first walked in, but I snuck into a corner, plugged in my HP mini
and they continue to chat, with an occasional glance my way. I’m in spy
mode. I love to listen to conversations around me—especially when they
don’t realize someone is listening.
You may have heard me say that I am a coffee aficionado before. I’ve
bought all the brands and made them at home, but there is something
about the ambience of a coffee place that can’t be duplicated. The
smells and sounds. The row of flavored syrups on the wall, more than
I’d ever buy to display (or even have room for). This little place is
filled with plants and funky signs, a bulletin board full of local
news—pictures of a newborn baby that must belong to someone who has ties
here.
I just had a conversation with a man who had to check out my computer.
His name is Willie. He is making his rounds, telling me that he mows
lawns around here. He was curious about me. ‘Where do you live?’ he
asked and I told him I was invading the place, having come from much
more populated Eugene. ‘Oh, you’ll like it here,’ he assured me. ‘Lots
of great people and its easy to find your way around.’ I agreed. I
think there are about 3 blocks of businesses, several churches and newer
neighborhoods being built as we speak. It is close enough to ‘town’
that the commute isn’t much of a stretch. I suspect most of the working
folks do drive east each morning and gratefully return west, towards the
ocean after their workday is done. I suspect that a few weeks of taking
my daily grind here and I would be accepted into the fold easily. And
it is good to know such community still exists, in the backroads and
byways. It is good to know that people still look for ways to connect
with one another. It is good to know that God’s children still need to
be in fellowship, whether they realize it or not. And as I sit here
typing away, the place has emptied out. Robbie, the owner, is sitting
and chatting to the one other customer, a man who also brought in his
laptop-but he was more amenable to conversation. (he doesn’t have a
column to write, after all). I am still in spy mode and hear that he is
moving to Georgia—the details of how he will transport all his stuff
from his grandmother’s house—along with other family secrets that I
probably should tune out…
So I am. I ask the Lord what He wants me to see in this little shop on
this sunny October morning. He tells me that community is good.
Community is necessary. Community is how He designed us to get through
life, making use of each others’ giftings and assets and let’s just say
it out loud—LOVE.
“If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love
has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the
Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do
me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited
friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to
the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be
obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough
to lend a helping hand.” Philippians 2:1 (MSG)
We have many opportunities to share our gifts with one another. And if
you can’t think of anything, ASK. There are those who won’t ask for
help, but if it is offered, they will admit—gee, I could use some help
with planning an event (something I like to do). Can I borrow your
(car, bike, purple jacket, book?) Would you pray for me? Could you
cook for me? Would you come visit my elderly mom? She would love some
company. Think of your own gifting—surely someone would love it if
you’d mow their lawn, hang some shelves, babysit their babies. Any time
I have made the effort, it has been rewarded so much more than I could
have anticipated.
He’s like that. He rewards us for being good kids. And He likes it
when we ARE good kids. I am finishing my coffee now. I can’t keep
quiet much longer—I need to talk to Robbie and this guy—their
conversation has just become too interesting to pretend to ignore any
more. And I will find ways to bless them—because He brought me here to
drink coffee and be part of the community.
Fondly,
Stephanie
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