Starbucks

I work at Starbucks. I really like it there. The atmosphere is perfect for hanging out with friends, getting some work done or grabbing a latte to go. One of the most fascinating things I have encountered during my time at Starbucks is the world of the "regulars," even at the drive thru:

"Hey there, Michelle! Is Lee with you today? Oh, alright... well, I'll have your tall, 3-pump mocha, 4-pump toffee nut, whole milk, with whip, extra hot, with extra toffee sprinkles mocha ready for you at the window. Actually, Katie is already working on it. Would you like your vanilla bean scone today, too? Sounds great. Well, you know the total... come on around."

Michelle approaches the drive thru window, hands the barista the money, takes her drink and scone and reaches out her hand to grab her plastic spoon she used to have to request each time so she could eat her whipped cream off the top like ice cream. She goes to school to teach for rest of her day, Starbucks cup on her desk, reminding her of her experience she had that morning and will have the next.

At Starbucks, Michelle is known. Her SUV has only to pull into the parking lot for someone to call out, "We're going to need a 'Michelle' at the drive thru."

People BECOME their drinks. Seriously, an identity is found in everything from a "grande bold no room for cream" to a "Michelle." People NEED to be known. And, they pay $4.61 a day for it... an expensive cup of caffeine, but a small price to pay for being known and loved.

In my opinion, that is one reason why Starbucks has done so well. Enough options are offered for people to find their identity in their cup and for their presence to be remembered at their local store. It is one thing that the average American can control completely and get a little java boost while doing so.

It's all pretty remarkable, isn't it? Psalm 139:1 says, "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me." I won't type it here, but go read the rest of the psalm. It makes a remarkable regular at Starbucks pale in comparison to the comfort found in knowing that God "knit [us] together in [our] mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13) and that His "works are wonderful" (Psalm 130:14). HE knows us. HE knows our pasts, our thoughts, our hearts and every little thing about us that no one else has cared to find out. And, He loves us anyways...