Introductory Coffee is No Longer 1 Euro ... poor me.

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There is a new cafe in our neighborhood called Papapico’s. We have gone in there a few times attracted by the modern design and cool atmosphere. It doesn’t have the feeling of a Vienna Coffee House, (can’t have it all), but it does have a very nice and personable owner, a waitress from Sicily that helps me with my German, free Wi-Fi, a drive-thru (unheard of in Vienna unless you go to McDonalds) and 1 euro coffee’s. Who could ask for anything more?

This week I surprised my older girls with an impromptu drink at Papapico’s drive-thru. Having dropped off little Libby, Addie girl and Precious Parker and I had a few minutes to kill before school. With the convenience of the drive-thru, I drove up, met my Sicilian waitress friend at the window and ordered 2 Cappuccino’s. We wait longer than any American would ever think of waiting in a drive-thru until the creamy hot goodness is delivered.

Because, being the creature of habit I am, coupled with the fact that I am always about a bargain, my little ears were waiting to hear “2 Euro, bitte” ring in my ears like gospel truth. Instead, I hear “5.80 Euro, bitte”. I choked. Right there in the drive-thru my calm and eager countenance dropped into a state of panic. I had to act fast. Grabbing a 5 Euro bill from my purse, digging frantically for .80, all while trying to conceal my bitter dissatisfaction and utter shock at the transaction that was taking place … we manage to pay.

Stunned, I threaten the girls … I mean strongly suggested … they enjoy every golden ounce of liquid and try to save the to-go cup for further use!

Apparently, the 1 Euro coffee was an introductory special. I missed the memo that it was for a limited time only. Poor me.

Yesterday afternoon, while sitting on my little balcony drinking in the sun, I had this rather deep thought about my loss of the introductory 1 Euro coffee (yes, I was still thinking about it 5 days later because that’s how deeply it wounded me … and affected my pocket book!). When the café opened, it was such a wonderful little treat to have the 1 Euro coffee’s at my disposal. After a few weeks turned into a month, I had forgotten about the novelty of the 1 Euro coffee. Now, it had become normal, routine, and predictable.

Having entered into a personal relationship with Jesus, almost 23 years ago, I wonder how often I forget the first love … the first thrill of hearing the Master of the Universe whisper my name. I don’t want my time, my experience, my relationship with Jesus to be a spiritual routine. I don’t want to be normal and predictable. Every moment I utter a prayer, squeak out a thank you, shout out a question … I want to be astounded. I want to be stunned at the response I hear from God. I want to be just as bewildered at how He stoops to answer me, provide for me, surprise me with a new revelation of how He acts in the universe as I was when I heard “5.80 Euro, bitte.”

God is not confined to our experience with Him. He speaks and mountains jump. He whispers and stars are born. Oh how I want to feel the breath at the base of my neck of my Father. I don’t want to miss the memo … the introductory offer of God’s grace, presence and wisdom … not that I could for it’s for an unlimited time. Unlimited.