Starbucks blogging
February 16th, 2007 ~ Just a slice of heavenBoy HOWDY, it’s cold. I think the official Bank Sign temp is in the 20’s, but there’s a 30 mph wind that is making it feel a lot colder than that. Plus the wind has old snowdrifts gusting around so you feel like you should see caribou come galloping by. Or even sailing by, if they’re small caribou.
Good time to be in a Starbucks.
And as I behold the arctic outdoors and sip my cafe au lait (ahhhh…), I have the same debate I always have as the Lenten fast approaches. It goes something like this:
- Boy, I’ll miss this when I can’t drink milk.
- Well, what the heck. If I have them make it with soy milk, it won’t taste that different.
- Hey, wait a minute, Pharisee Queen. Just making a few adjustments like that without really changing anything violates the spirit of the fast even if it keeps the letter. Are you going to strain a gant and swallow a camel?
- A “gant”? You mean a gnat?
- Yes, a gnat. Sorry, my laptop typing skills aren’t highly developed.
- Well, I can’t swallow a camel during Lent. That’s definitely off the table.
- That’s not even funny. You’re dodging the issue.
- All right, look. If you’re going to start adding additional strictures on that the Church doesn’t prescribe (no coffee? or, what, no “designer” coffee? So you’ll just drink Taster’s Choice or something? Ooo, tres,
tres ascetic!), you’ll just be making up extra rules for the sake of rules. And you’ll open yourself up to spiritual pride. (”Look at that sinner over there drinking coffee after church when I’m being holy! What a nerve.”) - Spending this much time thinking about a cup of coffee one way or the other is still centering yourself around food. Have it or don’t have it, but don’t make such a big thing out of it.
- Right.
- Exactly.
- So … what was the question again?
- I forgot too. Make the next one a latte.
Or something like that.
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February 16th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
I understand. I’m a Pharisee Erica all of the time during Lent. “OH yes guacamole doritos…they taste just like cheesy doritos.” Umm…wait?
Funny.
February 17th, 2007 at 6:40 am
I think this is a very human tendency. I don’t think there is anything wrong with determining what we eat (or drink) is as simple as possible - but as only applies to ourself.
For example, I am a tea snob. I freely admit it, and to fight this tendency in myself it is my practice to NOT buy my fancy high-grade imported Oolong loose leaf tea during Lent. This is just to fight something in myself - and I still drink tea - just not the fancy expensive stuff. It doesn’t make me somehow “better” from those who DO drink fine teas during Lent - it simply addresses a weakness that is in me and I do not assume that everyone else has the same weakness.
At least this is my perspective, it’s my story and I’m sticking to it :) Thankfully my spiritual father agrees.
It seems the Pharisee line is crossed when we start paying attention at what others do - but perhaps I am missing something here.
February 17th, 2007 at 7:57 am
No, I think you’ve got it right exactly. How many times have we heard that the fast is not just dietary restrictions — it’s what we DO, how we take the strictures and whether we allow them to make us better or worse. I came up with a guideline years ago that I try to employ: I should push myself to do as much as I can, and yet if I saw my brother or sister having cheese or wine or oil, I wouldn’t feel a moment’s judgmentalness toward them. I have known people that were great at the first part but just could not keep from being offended at those that weren’t fasting to their satisfaction.
February 17th, 2007 at 8:30 am
That is really how we are called to approach this, but avoiding judging in this department is sometimes quite the challenge, which is quite humbling. It speaks to that part of us that needs healing, which the tools of Lent are given to us to help address. So we keep trying, and just keep getting up when we slip.
So may we all begin the Fast well, and I will go back to ignoring the urge to go to my favorite tea site and ordering some good teas. Of course it would only be for Pascha! (yeah, right)
February 19th, 2007 at 7:19 am
LOL. I totally understand about the tea thing. I’ve recently learned to drink coffee (hence the Starbucks addiction), but tea is really the original “ahhhh” beverage. And so I’ve found that not putting milk in my tea is a little Lenten observance that is more of a daily reminder than a lot of other more stringent requirements. It’s a little bitter without it, but that serves as a good thing. Now I’m trying to diminish how much sweetener I put in — same concept.