“You don’t need another coffee,” some may say. “It’s not all that good for you anyway.”

Let them have their opinions.

It’s not just about the coffee.

It is the human-to-human touch we are seeking while we order our coffee. The eye-to-eye contact with the barista as they pay attention to us while we try to decide which new flavor to try.  It’s sitting in the cozy coffee shop watching other humans interact with each other. This is part of the ongoing therapeutic rebuilding of relationships… and the importance of being with others after the dark years of COVID.

We have come out of the dark and are looking for the light of new friends and acquaintances – times to sit close to one another while we sip our coffee.

We can go alone, order our coffee and sit and watch the mothers coming in with other mothers and littles, or the men’s group meeting in the corner, a manager giving an interview, students on their laptops studying, old folks reading a newspaper or book. Watching humanity interact is invigorating and uplifting, or contemplative and moving.

All this is more than just a cup of coffee. It is part of our recovery, reclaiming our humanness, our need for others. We are rebonding – rebanding – becoming strong together again. We need to do this.

And it is all free! Included in the price of your coffee!

It is good to the last drop!

What do you think?

How many of us need to be restored? At least in some area of our life.

Restoration has played a big part in my life. Restoring old furniture, old houses, order to the kitchen or closets. Restoration to family relationships. Speaking of which, my older brother and I were at odds much of our childhood. He’d call me names, hit and kick me, made me so mad, and I’d ignore him, but simmer inside. It was a get-along just to get-along relationship, and I didn’t like it…but didn’t know what to do about it. How many families have inner tensions, brothers and sisters, fathers and children who grow up and haven’t spoken to each other in years??!!

At 19, in college, I saw God’s concern for me like I’d never known it before. He began to restore me. I began to think about my brother and changed my attitude towards him…forgave him, asked God to forgive me, and prayed for him every night after I went to bed. About a year or so later one day he asked me to go to lunch with him. We only went to Burger King, but that changed everything in our relationship. We have been best friends since then. He is so smart and has helped me with and through so many things. What if we had never been restored?

I am so glad there is hope. I’m so glad things can be restored. I’m so glad God is in the restoration business. 

Is there something you need to have restored? God’s office doors are open day or night.