Billy Coffey
Billy Coffey

So Much More

April 23, 2009  

“We are earth!” she says.

I’m standing in the local Starbucks, getting the stink-eye from the cashier. She doesn’t like me, this woman. She told me so. “I can’t stand people like you,” she had mumbled under her breath a few moments before.

“Please?” I try once more, looking at my cup. “You mean you don’t have any?”

“I’m trying to save the planet here, sir,” she answers. “We’re all in the circle of life. What happens to the earth happens to us, you know.”

Circle of life? I think. What is this, The Lion King?

“I thought you were just making me some coffee.”

“Well, I did,” she answers, scooting the cup toward me.

I’m beaten. I know this. Knew it the first time I asked her. And I deserved it, too. This is what I get for driving to Starbucks for a four dollar cup of coffee when I could have just made my own at home. But some days are just made for a venti caramel macchiato, regardless of the consequences.

My mistake was going out the door ignorant of the fact that it was Earth Day. Had I realized that, I would have definitely stayed at home. Because Earth Day is when many of the normally sane people you meet during the day turn crazy. Much like the lady behind the register at Starbucks.

And this whole thing began well enough. She smiled asked what I’d like, and I’d smiled and gave her my order. She smiled and made my coffee, and I smiled and said thank you.

But then I couldn’t find a sleeve to put over my cup.

“Excuse me,” I said. “You wouldn’t happen to have any sleeves laying around back there, would you?”

“We’re requesting our customers not use sleeves,” she said. “Since it’s Earth Day and all.”

I failed to make the connection. “Why?” I asked.

“Because it’s better for the Earth.”

“It’s better for the Earth if I drink my coffee without a sleeve?”

“We’re trying to reduce our carbon footprint, sir. I’m sure you understand.”

“Sure,” I answered. “Absolutely.”

But then I tried picking up my coffee, which she had brewed to a temperature of about five thousand degrees. No way could I make it back to my truck without the plastic cup melting to my fingers.

So. It was either find a sleeve or stand there and wait for it to cool down.

“Ma’am,” I said. “You sure you don’t have a sleeve around here? This is pretty hot.”

“Sir, we’re really asking that you try and make due. It’s a little sacrifice to make for what we’ve done to our planet. I mean, let’s face it. The world would be better off without us around polluting it. A lot of our customers are bringing their own sleeves now.”

So now I have to bring my own sleeves to Starbucks? I already have to bring my own bags to the grocery store. Keep this up, and I’ll have to buy an even bigger SUV to haul everything around. What’ll they say then?

With little options available, I waited.

“Happy Earth Day, by the way,” she said, wiping down the counter in front of me. “I love Earth Day. It’s so…spiritual.”

“It is?” I asked her.

“Sure. You don’t think so?”

I tried picking up the cup again, then let go when I heard the sizzle on my fingers. “I guess it’s good. Important, maybe. But not spiritual.”

“But we’re all made to be spiritual creatures.”

“Yes.”

“Then you should feel a spiritual connection with Earth.”

“Why?”

At which point came the “We are Earth” comment.

So here we are, her and I, together yet separated. And by more than a simple counter. By the way we see our world.

I agree with her in this way: we are all made to be spiritual creatures. Whether we choose to believe so or not. But her thoughts ended there. Mine went further.

More than merely spiritual, we are special. Part earth, yes. Also part divine. Blessed with a spark of God that we may either kindle into a burning inferno or a tiny ember. Put here so that we may know and love Him, that we may know and love others, and that we may be good stewards of his world.

I love Earth. Love its mountains and its seas. Love clean air and clear water. I reduce and reuse and recycle. Not to show my love for Mother Nature. To show my love for Father God.

This lady in front of me is wrong. We’re not a little lower than the earth.

We’re a little lower than the angels.

I touch my cup one more time. No sizzle.

“You’re right,” I tell her as I leave. “We are Earth. But we are also so much more.”

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Filed under: Christianity, nature
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Comments

  • christy rose

    Love what you learned this day.

    Yes, we are earth. And, as we should take care of this body that God has given us to live our lives in, we should take care of the world that He has given us to live in.

    And yes, we are so much more. We are made in the image of our creator. You can’t say that for the earth. It was made for us, not the other way around.

    Through Jesus, we have been made “one” with the Holy Spirit. We are so much more!

  • Helen

    How unfortunate for her. I made some silly comments about Earth Day on other blogs, but I won’t here. It is one thing to get caught up in the “Save the Earth” mentality because one has bought into the doomsday theory of global warming (though why no sleeve? Why not refillable mugs? Why not bring your own mug? Why not lots of things….the paper sleeve seems more like they are too cheap to spring for a paper sleeve from your four bucks than that they are trying to save the planet…). But it is sad when we make God’s creation our god, whether that creation is Earth, human, or the inventions of His creation.

  • April

    Hi Billy~
    So glad you popped back over today! Yes, strap on your seatbelt, as far as the teenage years are concerned, and get ready for the ride of your life! I AM NOT KIDDING! :)

    Your Starbucks story was almost the same exact one told by another blogging buddy of mine, Sandy Toes. The lady at the counter refused to give her a cardboard sleeve for her latte and her hand was burning BADLY! The lady told her to go home and make one out of fabric! You got it, so start sewing away! LOL!

    Now, I think you handled your situation with incredible grace. I loved your last line…”We are Earth. But we are also so much more!” You definitely got that right! I hope and pray that those words caused that lady to go home and really think about her perspective. Just maybe, you made a difference! Have a good one!

  • God’s Not Finished With Us Yet…

    Wow, glad you told me about it being Earth Day….I guess I won’t be stopping at Starbucks either. I wonder why she didn’t just hand you some extra napkins; maybe she didn’t have those either I wonder?

    Amen to that! We are SO MUCH MORE! And the whole ‘Mother Nature’ bit is great to want to conserve but we aren’t to bow down to it, but instead bown down to the ONE who created it.

    I wonder if this whole week is an earth or conservation week? I was overhearing something on the TV yesterday about everyone turing off all their lights at a certain time for about 1 full min. or something like that…..something about conserving energy/electricity??? Not sure all the way…

  • gzusfreek

    So, Billy, I’m reading and Creed’s “Higher” is playing in the background. I you haven’t heard the song, just know it was the perfect accompaniment to a great post! Amen, brother. Who could add to that :)

  • katdish

    Well, good for you. I would have called her a crystal gripping tree hugger and walked out. But that’s how I roll sometimes. It drives me nuts when it seems people will believe in the power of Oprah, or trees, or dolphins, or aroma therapy, or mother earth, but scoff at the very notion of the Creator of the Universe. I don’t buy coffee at Starbucks, incidentally. I think’s it’s ridiculous to pay $4.00 for a cuppa joe. It’s one of my few standards.

    You should check out the ways my friend Stacy from Louisville suggested we celebrate Earth DayI pink fuzzy heart her.

  • RCUBEs

    Amen brother Billy! Reading your post while sipping a “grande mocha” here. And yes, fortunately with a sleeve!
    Yes, we are all predestined to have eternal life, but to which one of the only 2 destinations depend on what’s in our hearts. Glory to God!
    Awesome post…as always…God bless you and may He heal your “burnt” fingers. :)

  • Blessed Mom of 8

    WOW! All to get a cup of coffee.

    This post had me laughing out loud and took me right along side of you in the Starbucks. Glad I wasn’t there though I would have had a really hard time NOT chiming in.

    I would agree – we are so much more than anything this young woman believes unfortunately.

    Their are millions who worship Mother Earth. Sorry, hope I don’t offend anyone – but GAG! God NEVER created the earth to be worshipped. We are to take care of it and all that He has given us.

    Be we are to worship the CREATOR of the Earth.

    I can only imagine what God must think on days like this – where we humans make up holidays to worship everything under the sun – by the way which HE brought into existence too!

    Blessings Billy! You are a funny guy with a beautiful heart for our God!

    Jill

  • Joanne Sher

    Wow. Some people just don’t get it. You really pegged the difference between her perspective and yours – no, ours. So much more indeed.

  • Sockrma18

    We are so much more….you are so, so right! Sorry your fingers nearly melted to the cup. Not being a coffee fan, I have no clue how hot that cup was or how you might have felt drinking 5,000 degree coffee. :0) Bummer on that one!

    Great post, Billy!

  • Tracy

    So was it worth it? The coffee, I mean? I’m with you – we should care about and be good stewards over the earth that Father God has entrusted to us. B U T . . . I refuse to buy into either the hysteria over or the worship of mother nature. Great post!

  • Billy Coffey

    Sarah- Extra napkins! Why didn’t I think of that?

    Tracy- Sigh. Yeah, it was worth it.

  • Beth E.

    Great post! I have to drive at least 45 minutes to the “big city” to get to the nearest Starbucks, which explains why I get so excited when I get the chance to savor a Mocha Grande. Pantera’s is right beside the Starbucks. I hop over there, buy a pumpkin muffin and make a day of it! :)

  • Lianne

    Wow. Just Wow.

    Like I don’t feel guilty enough when I go in there to buy a latte. Sheesh!

    It amazes me how much people can “worry” over the condition of the earth or the humane treatment of chickens, but never consider the condition of their souls.

  • Beth in NC

    Such a talented story teller! I love it. Don’t I always say this? Sorry, but true!

  • Denise

    Sometimes I just don’t get it! We strip people of their humanity and attempt to animate the earth – where is the logic in that?

    I, too, appreciate the beauty of our world and the creation it is. My worship, however, is on the creator not the created.

    On a side note, I am so glad that I avoided Starbucks today. I am not sure if I would have handled it with such grace. Kudos to you!

    Shalom,
    Denise

  • Heart2Heart

    Billy,

    I loved your post about Starbucks. I hardly would believe the amount of carbon left behind by providing you with a sleeve to prevent the burning of your hands would be justified.

    I wonder if you noted whether Starbucks has a disclaimer printed on the side of their coffee cups to prevent you from being burned, like McDonalds did just before the big lawsuit with the lady that didn’t know it was hot.

    I am all for taking care of the planet because we are instructed to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with, but when they pass over the needs of people is when I refuse to budge.

    I don’t think I could have kept my comments to myself, and would need someone to restrain me. :)

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

  • jasonS

    Nice story. I just pray she understands some day what that spiritual side is for like you said.

    One thing’s for sure, we’re all messed up people who need Jesus. No bones about it…

  • Andra M.

    Napkins! I wouldn’t have thought about that, either.

    Next time will you take your own sleeve, or simply ask her to fill up your plastic mug?

    Great response to Earth Day fanaticism.

    You make me not want to sing “We are the World.” Ha!

  • sherri

    I didn’t realize it was earth day either.

    I do try to be responsible and save a buck every chance I get, but not for my form of Earth Worship…it is to save money- because, well, I need the money to buy all the stuff on the earth!
    Make sense?

  • Annie

    I love your posts! It doesn’t matter what kind of day I have had, especially if it is awful, I can always count on you to spark a laugh or help me remember what is important. Thank you again!
    You should try the Caramel Apple Cider…really good…comes with a big squirt of caramel sauce and a huge dollop of whip cream. Tastes like apple pie in a cup!

  • His grace is sufficient.

    We are earth! I guess I would have replied so now you are calling me dirt? Isn’t earth soil? Isn’t soil dirt? That’s what she really said that you were dirt. lol

    On the serious side, I loved your reply to her. It was most appropriate.

  • Lori

    Billy–You are so gracious. I’m sure I would’ve said more and probably not so nicely. Keep sharing what you’ve learned so I can learn along with you.
    Keep up the God Work,
    Lori

  • Jean

    Halleujah’! Once again you have injected some sanity into an obscenely insane notion.

    We are so much more. We are the stewards of this earth.

    We are children of God.

    I want to throw up every time I hear that phrase “Mother Earth.”

    Oops. I almost started ranting there.

    Thanks, again, Bill.

    Jean
    http://www.jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com

  • nAncY

    you sure run into some interesting folks.

  • Jennifer

    What Denise said.

    (My worship, however, is on the creator not the created.)

    Another great post, Billy.

  • Sarah Salter

    See! Another good reason to drink your coffee iced. Or better yet, to give it up altogether. :-)

  • Chris Godfredsen

    Beautiful, Billy. I am craving me some Starbucks, but glad I didn’t find myself in that scenario – or am I?

    Your story and the one of another friend late last night has me thinking today about Phillip in Acts 8. He is given the opportunity to explain who Jesus is and then leads this person to Jesus – and a minute later – baptizes him!

    Your response to the woman was beautiful, but I am wondering how cool would it be if we continued on (especially me!) and people were actually brought to Jesus on the spot and baptized because we did so.

    He told us to “go” and then said “surely I will be with you to the very end of the age.” This is me asking myself if I believe it – and if I do, am I gonna start living it out in all my opportunities!

    Grace and Peace, brother!

  • Billy Coffey

    Sarah- Never!

  • Warren Baldwin

    Billy,
    You said it the way I wish I could …

    Note: stick a ceramic cup in your truck.

  • Chatty Kelly

    I expected her to start singing “we are the world, we are the children” any second. *Grin*

    I loved this post.

    Thanks for visiting my blog too.

  • Sarah Salter

    But Billy, didn’t you know that coffee stunts your growth? That’s what my Dad says anyway…

  • Angie

    I suppose we have a connection with the earth. Afterall, we were formed from the dust of the ground. Adam and Eve were placed in a garden to till and keep it.

    But still…what an peculiar picture you paint of the days in which we are living. I can’t help but think of Romans 1:25…they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.

    I’ve appreciated your comments at other blogs and decided to visit. Glad I did. So nice to meet you, Angie

  • Jessica

    Wow, what a great post! I loved reading it, though I’m not sure I could’ve been as patient with that lady as you were. Grrrr…
    I really love the end of this. It was so beautifully post.

    Great pic at the top! Is that where you live? I’m a little jealous. LOL

    Thank you for stopping by my blog today. :-)

  • twofinches

    Billy

    Beautifully written as usual. And so well wrapped up at the end (speaking as a writer sometimes it takes me almost as long to decide on a first and last line and for the whole body)

    I saw a bumper sticker on a car that I was going to blog about for earth day but didn’t get around to it . It said “The Earth Does Not Belong To Us. We Belong To The Earth” No wonder non-Christian environment worshippers are in such a panic. Their god is a mass of eroding rock, polluted waters and acrid air! We have the hope. We do not belong to the earth. The earth belongs to God! It (and we) are in His hands. He expects us to respect creation but not to worship it.

    Bless you as you blog for Him

  • Peter Stone

    Thanks for sharing this. The earth is important, but not over the people whom our creator God made in His own image. So many think that people are the disease that is killing the world, but they will not see that it is sin and greed that causes the trouble.
    Loved the conclusion, we are so, so much more.

  • Annie K

    My sons teacher insisted they celebrate earth day. To save paper he wouldn’t assign homework. (Killian told him every day should be earth day.)

  • Avery’s Mommy

    so i think you should sue starbucks for burning your hand…
    hehehe

  • Tea With Tiffany

    Leaving with the truth of your words.

    “More than merely spiritual, we are special. Part earth, yes. Also part divine. Blessed with a spark of God that we may either kindle into a burning inferno or a tiny ember. Put here so that we may know and love Him, that we may know and love others, and that we may be good stewards of his world.

    I love Earth. Love its mountains and its seas. Love clean air and clear water. I reduce and reuse and recycle. Not to show my love for Mother Nature. To show my love for Father God.”

    Thanks for the gift again…

  • sharilyn

    mmmmm… good stuff. this reminds me of your last post about a visit to starbucks… “ma’am, i’m gonna need you to give me a Merry Christmas.” :) loved that one and retold the story to quite a few folks in my life! :) [and, as you can see, the line is with me even still!]

  • sharilyn

    ps… these lines from that post also truly apply here: “And I realize I just can’t let this one go. There comes a time in every person’s life when he or she must stand up and be a voice for common sense. This, I decide, is my time.” (perhaps your visits to starbucks are to bring their employees a bit of common sense?)