I’m engaging in my favorite morning ritual: drinking coffee.

Drew teases me about “bowing down to my black god” but I see coffee a bit differently. Coffee is comfort. I love nothing more than crawling under a warm blanket with my cup of coffee. The thought alone makes me smile. And often, I don’t even need to drink it to feel comforted. Merely holding the cup makes me feel all warm and happy inside.

I was first introduced to the wonders of coffee while on tour with the African Children’s Choir. I traveled with some intense coffee-holics. Now by that I don’t mean that you don’t want to talk to them before they have their morning cup of coffee. Their smile just gets way bigger when you hand them a cup. They don’t need it. But it brightens their day.

I used to never like coffee. I loved the smell but couldn’t stand the taste. But one day, while on tour, after an exceptionally long, sleep deprived weekend, I decided to give it a try. Why, with enough cream and sugar the stuff was tolerable! Slowly, over time, I’ve become more accustomed to the taste and have tried to put less sugar in (some days) and have truly grown to enjoy it. The added boost it gives you is a bonus, but for me, it truly is all about the comfort of a warm drink. Plus, coffee makes me think of community. Think about all the times you’ve heard or said, “Let’s get coffee!” Coffee is best enjoyed in company of two or more. (But I do still enjoy my quiet cup in the morning, in my wonderful solitude.)

This whole concept of coffee in company explains the wide spread popularity of coffee shops. I was once again introduced to the wonders of coffee shops on tour. Enduring the grueling schedule was tough, and the chaperones were rewarded once a week with a blissful day off. Some chose to stay in the host homes and sleep all day, but I most often chose to explore a bit of the city we were in. And the highlight of exploring was stumbling upon a coffee shop, where I could curl up with a good book and a journal, all while sipping on something hot. Back in those pre-coffee days, my drink of choice was chai tea (which I still often enjoy) but regardless of the drink, the experience was still the same. In the quiet atmosphere with the smell of coffee lingering in the air, I could unwind and let go of all the stresses of the week. I’d walk out refreshed and ready to go again.

So when I came home from tour and was looking for a job, working in the coffee shop that my church had just opened seemed like a good choice. Sure, I didn’t know squat about making coffee, but I understood coffee shops and why they were so important to so many. I think many people don’t like coffee shops because of the overpriced coffee, and I agree. Much of it is way expensive. But I feel that half of what you’re paying for is the atmosphere.

I was excited about my church’s coffee shop, because not only was it a coffee shop, it was a ministry. It was to serve as a non threatening place for people to come to… those people who may never enter through church doors. Although the coffee shop isn’t “churchy” and we aren’t praying over people and laying hands on them, we are warm and welcoming. We work on building relationships with our regulars. We reach out to them in any way we can. And I know from experience that by simply walking through our doors and holding that cup of coffee, they have been comforted. And they can walk out refreshed.

So when my church decided to sell the shop, I was saddened. I was sad that they seemingly gave up on this good opportunity to reach out. It was bought by another church whose vision seems to be the same, and I hope to continue working there. I didn’t realize how passionate I was about the place until all the drama began to happen. But I’m hoping and praying that it continues to be a safe place for all who enter and that the warm cup of coffee they hold will still bring big smiles to their faces.

With all that said, I think I’ll go pour myself another cup.