Outside a storm gathered and thunder rumbled in the
distance. After a two and a half hour
meeting about rules, regulations and other issues pertaining to the new school
year, another storm brewed inside of me with an overwhelming weight. My mind poured over all these things while I
ate my lunch. I was not anxious per se
but certainly burdened. On top of this,
I am scheduled to preach on Sunday morning.
A message must be prepared and delivered—only my mind was on everything but the sermon. I knew I needed to go
somewhere or do something to unwind.
I heard another rumble of thunder outside and soon the rain
poured in sheets, pounding against the window panes and creating small rivers in the parking lot. It was then I decided
to drive down to the Starbucks, just outside of the Millcreek Mall. “I have to get laundry detergent anyway,” I
thought. “I’ll just swing by and get
something to drink.”
The storm subsided as I reached my first destination, though
it still sprinkled. I hurried into the
café where several couples and friends sat and chatted in the cozy
atmosphere. Only one person stood in
front of me, an older lady whom I later found out drove for the past six days from Alberta,
Canada to go to her class reunion in Olean, NY. She ordered and I thought I overheard the cashier say, “It’s on
us.”
Curiosity gripped me as I greeted the cashier and placed my order: a mocha frappuccino.
“The power went out for a moment and our systems are
temporarily down. It’s a grace
period.” He said.
“You mean I don’t have to pay?”
“It’s on us today.”
“You guys are the best,” I replied. And they are. The workers at this Starbucks (and the others in Erie) have
always greeted me with a smile and made me feel welcome. Today, this small act of kindness was a
little ripple to my burdened soul. My
mind felt clear and the burden lifted as I savored not just my frappuccino but
also this small act of kindness.
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