Grab and Go, Differently

It’s a beautiful thing, the coffee culture found in cities around Europe. It’s a “grab and go” that is actually about staying. 

Taking a coffee break in Annecy, France

Here’s the scene: a walk-up counter, standing room only in a small café, a fresh pull of espresso in a quaint mug, a neighbor bumping elbows with you as they sip, the smell of coffee and croissants in the air, a man an hour into animated conversation with his friend. 

This provides so much more of a “takeaway” than any carry out I find in America. Because in Europe, they carry in. They bring time, and leave the rush. They bring conversation, and drop the smartphone. They bring quality in a small cup of espresso, and drop the 64oz Big Gulp chugged while on the run. They stand, but because they want to and their purpose is to linger, not because they’re irritated that their order is taking more than three minutes. 

What do you think? Would you be up for a different sort of “grab and go?”

Tokens from Tolkien

As you can see from the title of my blog, I've found some Tolkien quotes that I like. Just the other day, I heard this one:

"Not all who wander are lost."

Isn't that the truth? In today's day and age, with technology, globalization, and fluidity a part of everyday life, feeling lost is pretty common. Wandering goes far beyond moving physical location. It takes form academically, spiritually, emotionally, virtually, and relationally. We flit from Facebook profiles to Flikr albums, to Pinterest boards, to jobs, to tweets, to friendships, to degrees. Well, you get the point!


But even in doing all of that (which I do on a daily basis for my work), we can keep our compass pointing north. Exploring and pushing boundaries is healthy. I've been blessed to be able to travel, experience different educational environments, live in different places, and navigate the wild west of digital media over the past years. It may have been a circuitous journey at times, and I may not have had a map, but I sure grew from the journey and discovered that remaining true to myself and who God made me to be allowed me to continue northward. aka, I wasn't lost. 


Which leads me to another Tolkien quote:

“A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.” 

I have always been a firm believer in dreams. Pursuing what you know to be right, and who you know yourself to be is so critical. After all, God created us in his image, to be fulfilled through the new life that Christ offers us when we believe in him. This goes so much farther than just acknowledging a heavenward path. It seeps into us, allowing us to discover the purpose and vision God has for our lives. 

Yes, realities press in on us from all directions. And yes, they can be discouraging, daunting, and even dire at times. But  if we have a dream in mind, and the confidence in knowing that it is sound and right, then the strength we have to go after it will always be stronger than the momentary trials that stand in our way.

So in a nutshell, I'd like to stake my claim in this fashion: I am a wandering dreamer, but I am not lost and I am not unrealistic. I am just more influenced by the power of Christ and the hope of finding myself in him and his work, which always triumphs.

Thanks for the inspiring words, Tolkien. I think we can all feel them resonate in our lives and look to them as a good reminder when our map is a little unclear or our dreams a little far off.