Regulars

Now that I've been working my new job at Starbucks for over two weeks, I feel like I am finally getting into the "groove" of things a little bit more, and can start making theological analogies in my comments here about my experiences there. That wasn't going to happen my first couple weeks there; trying to learn the complex Starbucks-Ian language of drink recipes and standard procedures made me feel like a rat thrown onto a spinning exercise wheel, just spinning my little legs trying to keep up. And that was a weird analogy. But now I'm a bit more relaxed as I walk in for my shift, tying the strings of my green apron, and enjoying the familiar swooshing sound of the espresso machine as it steams the milk for a latte or Cappucino. Ahhhh, a lovely sound.

Of all the many new things I'm learning on this job, knowing who the regulars are and what they order has been stressed as something very important to remember. The regulars keep the business going, so be nice to them, remember their names and their favorite drinks, serve them well. I was surprised how many regular customers come in there, every day, even more than once a day, to enjoy their favorite expensive beverages. And they usually have some very specific, high-maintenance specifications to go with them.

Of course we cheerfully grant their requests as quickly and efficiently as possible, serving them up with a gracious smile, but as I begin to recognize these familiar faces and their corresponding ridiculously complicated drink requirements, I also sense which ones grate on my fellow employees' nerves the most. What's funny about this is that we're usually all wearing these headsets which allow us to take orders from the drive-thru as well as quietly communicate with the other "partners" (Starbucks word for employees) on our shift, without having to yell across the building. So as an example, I'm beginning to ring up an order tonight from this guy who always brings in his own two personal cups for him & his wife, (to get the personal cup discount of about 13 cents) and always orders the same thing. On my headset this guy ("partner") in the back doing dishes is listing off this guy's order a split-second before the customer says it, so it's like an echo, and I'm trying as hard as I can to keep a straight face but that's impossible for me so I'm busting out laughing and apologizing to the customer, saying I'm just new here and having some trouble...as I key in the decaf tall mocha latte with nonfat milk and no whip, then the regular grande mocha with whole milk and no whip... But what's worse is when these employees start talking junk about these regulars over the headsets, in a quiet voice, in some pretty colorful language, and then turning back around and handing the person their drink with a big phony smile. Interesting.

 

 

Makes me wonder, in my usual divergent thinking mode, if this is how our Lord feels about us when we pray sometimes. Minus the colorful language, of course, but I just wonder if he ever gets a bit fed-up with us "regulars" who come crawling to the throne of grace, time and time again, with our usual set of predictable prayers. Like, "oh no, here she comes again, I know exactly what she's going to say." And now, forgive me as I stretch the boundaries of theological knowledge a bit, but suppose Jesus is the one wearing a drive-thru-style headset, greeting us, the customers, while God the Father sits on his throne, making comments to Jesus as they together receive our prayers. (I know, I'm thoroughly aware of what the holy Trinity is all about, but just humor me here...) And so God looks down and might comment to his Son, "oh this guy's the long-winded guy, he'll start with some heartfelt praise & worship that he'll sing off-key, then he'll go through a very structured format of confession, prayers of thanks, then prayers for wisdom and depending on which day of the week it is, he'll pray for world leaders, missionaries, distant relatives, school teachers and firefighters, his favorite sports team, wisdom, a future wife and then whatever physical ailment he has going on this week. Oh and this next person comes by about once a month or so, after she messes up another relationship and promises she'll be good if we'll just grant her this one request..". I wonder if the all-holy, omnipotent God ever gets harsh in his comments to Jesus about us, to which the all-loving, merciful Christ breaks in with his usual words of grace, reminding the Father of the great love He has for us, that no matter how badly we've acted and even though He knows we'll still mess up again, He will still love us and not even remember what we did in the past.

Now if we could just learn to have that kind of mercy and grace on those annoying people in our lives...those "regulars" who keep placing those demands on us, and to serve them up with a smile. And a perfectly crafted latte.

(dog photo, random, I know, just couldn't resist a daily shot of cuteness!!!)

 

 

 

 

 

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