Hey everybody, and welcome back to the Set Your Mind Above Podcast! I’m your host BJ Sipe – I’m a Christian, a preacher, a husband, and a father. In this podcast we take everyday, ordinary events and explore how they can teach us extraordinary, eternal truths. I’m so glad that you joined me for this episode. Now, let’s open up our minds, our hearts, and our Bible’s together.
Today was a very full day, which generally tends to happen on a Tuesday, and I absolutely love it. I woke up and started off my day answering some emails and some other messages before getting myself ready to get out the door for a 10:30 meeting, followed shortly thereafter by a 12:30 meeting, and then a 3:00 study. Well, between my 12:30 meeting and 3:00 study, I ended having about an hour to kill and I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. It was around 2:00, and I was already on the same side of town as Cracker Barrel where my study was at, so it made no sense to go into the office or go sit and study elsewhere because by the time I got set up it would have been time to pack up and head back out. I had some phone calls to make, but I figured I could do that just about anywhere, so I jumped in line at the Starbucks for a coffee here in Danville. Now, for those that don’t live here in Danville, that Starbucks is a toss-up every day as to what level of “open” they actually are. For whatever reason, they have really struggled with staffing issues over there, and it affects what happens each day. Sometimes they are drive through only, somedays they are drive through and mobile order only, and somedays they are also open in the lobby – but it really depends on the day. Well today was a drive through only day, and that means that the drive through line normally would take you about 30 minutes to get through because of how long it was. Well, I had that kind of time and had phone calls to make anyway, so I jumped in line. About 15 minutes went by and I was the next car to order as I pulled closer to their outdoor menu displays. As I looked up, I saw handwritten notes all over their displays. “We are currently out of many of our menu items due to recent road conditions and shipping, we apologize for any inconvenience and ask that you be ready to change your order if necessary. Thank you for understanding.” I totally got it. That was something completely outside of the control of these baristas, they cannot control when things arrive on the shipping trucks, they just have the do the best that they can with what they have. As I pulled forward a little more getting ready to order, I saw another sign. “We are currently short staffed, and again apologize for any inconvenience this might bring. Thank you for your patience.” These poor people, they had a lot working against them. I pulled up to speaker and rolled down my window. “Welcome to Starbucks, we apologize for the delay, what can I get you?” a young man said over the monitor. “Hey bud, how are ya’ll holding up today? Looks like things have been rough for you guys?” I asked. “Oh it’s…it’s been a day.” He replied, “We’re just trying to get through the day, but we’ve got a good team to get it done.” “You sure do,” I said, “Y’all always do such a good job. I’m so sorry it’s been rough today, and I hope your customers have been understanding. Just hang in there, okay?” He thanked me and I put in my order and moved forward, thinking nothing of it. I opened up my app to pay for my coffee and get my points as I pulled up to the window, and as I reached out to give them my payment, they handed me my coffee and said, “Nope, put that away. This one is on us today.” I was so touched. I said thank you to each of them and told them that was not necessary, but it was thoughtful. I started to drive off when I noticed the note they left me on the top of my coffee cup: “Thank you for being so nice – Starbucks” with a big heart drawn next to it. I was certainly not looking for a free drink, but it was such a kind gesture on behalf of their team. If you’re pulling through here in Danville, make sure to show these guys some extra grace: they’re doing their best with what they’ve got right now!
As I pulled away, I started to wonder how many of their customers have not shown them any extra grace or mercy right now, especially given their response to my brief comments. It is really easy for people to get into “consumer mode”, isn’t it? I want this, and I want it now, and if you don’t perform this service for me how I would like and in a timely fashion regardless of the circumstances on your end, I’m gonna pull a Karen & go nuts on this place. And I understand that as a customer you pay for a service and a business should do all they can to provide that service. But in what world have you ever done everything flawlessly in your life? When extenuating circumstances didn’t mess things up a bit? Didn’t you want others to be patient with you in those moments? To show you some grace? Listen, this is not just about being a consumer, we’re talking about being Christlike in general to those around you. Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) If we want to be shown mercy in our times of need, shouldn’t we be willing and ready to show that mercy to others? How could you possibly expect to be given the benefit of the doubt by someone if you won’t do the same for them? How hypocritical and selfish is that? You probably heard the old expression growing up, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Well, the Bible takes it a step further. Not only should you not tear others down with your words, you should actively work to build them up. Ephesians 4:29 reads, “No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” When we think “foul language” we often limit that to inappropriate words, but really it’s much larger than that. It’s using speech in such a way that tears others down, words that are not merciful and graceful, but are demanding and arrogant. How self-righteously we speak down to others sometimes, assuming we are in the right when in actually we are so far in the wrong with the way we have addressed them. My words ought to be seasoned with salt, full of grace and mercy to those I am directing them towards. And remember the words of Jesus…those who give mercy will receive mercy, but from whom? Not just others, such as the kindness Starbucks showed me today, but ultimately from God. We read in Hebrews 4:16, “Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.” If God is willing to give us grace & mercy in our time of need, who are we to then turn around and not do the same for others? And more than this, the mercy that God has shown is so far greater than the mercy we are called to extended to others. The kind of mercy we are called to show is patience, kindness, and gentleness. The kind of mercy God has shown us is salvation. We are sinners worthy of death, and yet through Jesus he has offered us life. But God will not show us mercy in the greatest things if we’re not even willing to show mercy in the simplest things to others. Stop thinking about what is “your right” in your interactions with others, and start thinking about “what is right”. May God give us mercy in as much as we show the same to others in our life.
Thank you for tuning in to today’s episode, and I would invite you back Tuesdays-Fridays for a brand-new episode each day. If you haven’t already, be sure to find us on Facebook for occasional announcements and special video sessions. If you have benefited from this podcast, please if you’re able be sure to share it with someone else that you think could benefit from it as well. Until next time, know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each & every day set our minds above.