Is it more strange that I wonder if the coffee beans in the machine ever fall into a garbage chute upon some sort of electronically defined expiration scan or that a good portion of my life is spent reading and writing for a living, yet I am constantly hankering for someone else's take on the world, God's ultimate wisdom in my life and a place to rest my thoughts.
There's the guy who has worked at the paper for 30-plus years and has more first-rate sources than I have family members, but he could still use a thumbs up or "good game slap" once in a while to remind him he's appreciated.
There's the kid who acts up because his time-release medication has just about run its course for the day and my wife (and teachers around the globe) has to find a way to rein him or her in. She could give the evil eye and bring down punishment right away, but inside the heart of most 7-year-olds is a pretty simple script that screams, "I just want someone to love me!" It also might say, "Chicken Nuggets and Webkinz too, pwetty pweeze!" The point is: even the hardest cases to crack inevitably are just searching for some form of comfort, attention or solution.
And there's the lead pastor at a church my wife and I just started attending during our fantastic whirlwind of a journey here in Lakeland, Fla. (yes, it's where Tigers spring training is...next question...and yes we have a room for you...nightly fee to still be determined).
Brett Rickey, the lead pastor of Highland Park Church, made a statement that I replay in my mind at least once a day when considering the path I'm trekking down and the way I'm treating people and spreading hope in dark places.
When delving into the role we play in our workplaces he wasn't preachy, he wasn't forceful -- he was actually quite brief and matter-of-fact. There wasn't one distinct Scripture he lamented about, instead he just got to the heart of what I believe Christianity is about.
"To make a difference and get people's attention when you're at work, you do not have to hit them in the head with a Bible or recite verses of scripture," he said.
Admittedly I piped up to hear what type of DYI solution he was going to offer. Instead he reminded me of this pursuit of happiness and worth I am reflecting on tonight
"If you simply spend time getting to know someone and show them you care about them and love them as a person, they will already be so confused. They will recognize you are different and want to know why," Rickey said.
When I push 1-A-7 on the brew-o-matic device I know I am getting a "regular" (funny term that I guess can oppose organic and/or Fair Trade in a laughable way here) coffee with sugar and lightener. If I push B-C-3 then I'll look forward to a frothy, steaming vanilla cappuccino. I also will be 10 cents lighter.
If I push 1-A-7 and get black decaf, A.) I'm going to retreat to the fridge and hope someone left Coffeemate for such crises and B.) I'm going to be confused and want an answer to my 55-cent question.
If I tell someone I am Christian and I want to build a relationship with them or if I tell someone as their supervisor I care about their work and want to make them better at their job they are going to expect when they push certain buttons I will offer certain advice and/or consistently offer them the same kind of useful response or action.
Sometimes it's a windy road and sometimes it's a lot of paragraphs breaks with your eyes bugging out at the screen, while you wonder out loud what time I put a fascination with amateur psychology, my wandering mind and a penchants for online projects into a blender.
I can't promise the final result will always be smooth and tasty, but I can always promise I'll bring my best ingredients and whip up something that might make you go "hmmmmmmmm." Might.
