Monthly Archives: January 2012

defining moments at Starbucks

This morning as I was reading, it was talking about choices we make every day: Paper/plastic; this road or that road.

When making choices, the movie “You’ve Got Mail” comes to mind: “The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don’t know what the hell they’re doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino.”

Whether you believe that last statement or not, ponder it for just a minute. You get all kinds of people shopping at “coffee” shops. But, if you took each person for who they are outside the walls of the “coffee” shop, can they even make a decision that will help them get to the top of the mountain to success?

Before you shut me out, success here is NOT monetary; it is life decisions that will allow you get to the top of the mountain.

From my reading this morning it says that we need to listen for God’s whisper in our hearts and to the acquired wisdom of family and friends when we are making choices. This is great advice right? Or is it? For some, we have very successful family and friends so listening to their acquired wisdom would be great.

But what about those whose family and friends have lots of wisdom, it’s just bad wisdom. It’s the wisdom, that if you take it, your chances of ending up addicted to drugs, alcohol, or being a resident of the county jail, rehab center or worse yet 6 feet under, are greater.

As we get to really know our new friends in the county jails, the parents are starting to open up and we are finding out that their charge partner (i.e. partner in crime) is THEIR CHILD. So I know that the last paragraph I wrote is true.

Think about the single mom who was never shown how she could afford to go to college. All she was told; it is too expensive. Did anyone take the time to say these words “yes, college is expensive, BUT it is doable and let me show you how”.

So for some people, going to family and friends for wisdom may not be such a good idea. But if they shouldn’t go to their family and friends who then?

Consider using your wisdom to empower someone else to get to the top of the mountain. Consider using your gifts in a mentoring relationship contact us today for more information.