• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Handcrafted Blessings

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” ~ 1 Thess. 5:11

  • Join my team
  • Classes & Events
  • Shop Cards
  • Business Coaching
  • Product Shares
  • Blog
  • About
    • Contact Me
  •  

Coffee and community

May 27, 2013 By Holly Sutton Leave a Comment

I’m sitting at a coffee shop this afternoon, sipping a Mayan Mocha, reading my Bible and another book. And I’m struck by the idea of coffee and community.  This particular coffee shop, Leaves & Beans in Morton is one of my favorite haunts.  I’ve got my comfy chair, books on each its arms, coffee on the little coffee table in front of me and a great view.  I can people watch, both inside and out.  I see people at Dairy Queen across the street, enjoying their treats.  I see a couple on a bench slowly eating ice cream and watching cars go by.  I see a young couple with their baby, laughing and feeding each other ice cream.  I see a dad with 2 young boys, perhaps enjoying the first ice cream of the season.

Inside the coffee shop, I had a little chat with the barista.  Nice gal.  A couple college age guys are hanging out, looks like they’re checking out the barista.  Two ladies are sipping iced tea and talking about husbands and grandkids and budgets.  An older gentleman and his wife just pulled up – he comes in for coffee, she runs over to Dairy Queen.

What is it about a coffee shop that breeds community?  Coffee drinker or not, people gather at coffee shops to talk, to laugh, to cry, to fight. 

I’ve seen people study for school, study their Bible, study others in the shop or just study the technology in front of them. 

I’ve watched couples talk through tough subjects while other couples plan their wedding. 

I’ve seen the start of a first date and watched others break up. 

I’ve seen groups with their heads bowed in prayer while others express their anger and frustration about God.

I’ve watched as someone came in alone and sad, only to find spontaneous community with a friend and their countenance visibly lifted.

What is it about a coffee shop that breeds community?  And can we create that same community in our homes?  In our churches? 

I love hanging out in coffee shops.  I am content to come alone, watch people, read my books and sip my coffee.  But more often I love the random conversations that can take place.  I love meeting a friend and deepening our friendship.  I love to look for that person who came in alone and sad and go over and offer a smile and a kind word.  I love the openness of most people in a coffee shop, the topics that naturally arise that you may not talk about otherwise.  I love the God moments that I’ve witnessed or been a part of.  I love to sit and pray for those I encounter in the coffee shop.

There’s something beautifully messy about coffee shop community.  And I love every moment of it.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Personal, Thinking

Email Newsletter

Sign up for Holly's Happenings

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Email Newsletter

Join my mailing list to get encouragement, tips & techniques delivered right to your inbox!

Product categories

Shop Stampin Up (click picture)

Search Store for cards & kits

×
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Search Blog

DISCLAIMER

The content in this blog is the sole responsibility of Holly Sutton as an independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. The use of and content of classes, services or products offered is not endorsed by Stampin’ Up!


Images © 2018 Stampin’ Up!®

Featured posts

Footer

Products

  • Ferns Birthday Card $4.50
  • Dinosaur Birthday Card $4.50
  • Birthday Wishes Card $4.50
  • Blue Relax Your Way Card $4.50
  • Cabin Birthday Card $4.50

Email Newsletter

Sign up for Holly's Happenings.

Sign up to learn about all the newly handcrafted blessings!

About

Follower of Jesus, daughter, sister, friend, crafter....in need of grace. That's me. I am a bundle of joy, laughter, craziness and some drama mixed in. Just taking life one adventure at a time. Finding joy in the journey with Jesus....

Learn more about Holly

Copyright © 2023 · Designed by HeartWired Digital Solutions | Powered by · WordPress · Log in