Yesterday, for the first time since Joshua’s battle against the Amorites, time stood still. Okay, so it wasn't for a full day; but for three hours last night, life as we know it came to a halt. From 5:30 to 9:00 PM Starbucks was closed. Not just my husband's store or a few in town... all of them. Nationwide. As my cousin put it, "the world waited at the feet of the green mermaid wondering if she would keep her promise and return on time." Each store reopening was a magical chocolate factory moment, minus the eerie Willy Wonka played by Johnny Depp.
The reason for our momentary lapse in caffeine was an initiative by the company to take a moment of reflection. For three hours baristas around the country gathered around personal dvd players to watch a video message from the CEO Howard Schultz and then walked through three training sessions with their managers. By taking this time-out, they accomplished almost half a million hours of training. It's a clear message that they think standards and training are important for their company's success. As a local manager told my cuz, “[They’re] getting back to [their] soul.”
That comment really gave my heart a pause. If Starbucks thinks it's important to take a few hours off for introspection, shouldn't I? When's the last time I took three hours, shut the doors to the world, and spent that time "in training" with God? In the Psalms, the writer talks about God taking my hand and guiding me with His counsel. Yet solitude is one of the most neglected spiritual disciplines in the Church today.
This week is crazy busy for me, and I know everyone else out there is just as busy with family, work and life in general. But let's take the challenge-- three hours. By yourself, with God. If it's worth those loss in revenue for Starbucks, imagine the increase we'll experience in our own lives.
What do you think?
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