The line of cars wraps around the building every morning, 7 days a week. Rain or shine, windy or calm, hot or cold, the Ford’s and Chevy’s and Nissan’s and BMW’s are always there at 7:30 AM. Each one waiting their turn to relay their order to the voice on the other end of the speaker.
Grande no whip double shot low fat latte. Venti caramel macchiato. Tall skinny soy decaf cappuccino. And for some, a plain old cup of black coffee.
For many people, Starbucks is as much a part of their morning routine as putting on their pants. Wake up, take a shower, get dressed, hop in the car, hit the Starbucks and drive to work. Monday through Friday and in shorts and a T-shirt on Saturday’s and Sunday’s.
Several years ago we had a huge rain in Lubbock. The flat roof on the Starbucks didn’t handle it well. It collapsed. Thankfully no one was hurt. But the business had to be shut down for a long time. To read the comments on my Facebook page, you’d have thought the end of the world was near.
“Oh, no! Did you hear? Roof cave in at Starbucks. What am I going to do? I can’t function without my coffee in the morning!”
“No Starbucks! Anyone know where the next closest one is?”
“Maybe this will force me to look for other coffee shops.”
“No Pumpkin Spice Latte this fall?!?! Aaaahhhhgggg!!!!”
After a lengthy season of repair, Starbucks reopened to the delight of their customers, able again to jump start their day with hefty doses of caffeine and sugar.
I’ve been wondering lately about my tendency to count on inherently unstable human entities while doubting God’s provision for my life. I never wonder that Wal-Mart will be unavailable or closed when I need cold medicine at 2 AM. My assumption is that it will be there when I need it. The Starbucks customers were thrown into a tizzy because the goddess on the sign has always been there for them. Never a thought that their desire for a Mocha Chip Frappuccino would go unsatisfied. When the roof caved in on the store, it also caved in on their assumption the store will always be there.
God has always been there for me. Always. And not just me. The Bible says His “faithfulness is to all generations”. His promises are sure. Because God is not a man that He should lie. He promises to never leave or forsake, to always love and forgive, to always provide and to never stop working on me.
God will never let us down. Ever. The One who hung the stars in the sky is fully able and more than willing to supply us with everything we need. This Thanksgiving, the best gift we can give God is the gift of our trust in His Father heart for us. He loves us and He will always take care of us.
As for those Starbucks folks in a panic when the roof caved in, they should know better than to think it will always be there for them. It’s a rough and tumble world we live in and West Texas weather can do a number on your business.
Besides, I don’t go to Starbucks. We have a Keurig at home. It makes great coffee and I don’t have to drive to get it. It doesn’t have a roof on it and it’s always there for me every morning.
I’m sure nothing could ever possibly go wrong with it.
Right?
“Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides.”
– Psalm 119:89-90
Todd A. Thompson – November 21, 2012
