Today was a very special day. After the usual unusualness of the day, the most unusual thing of all happened: I did something I used to usually do but in a really unusual fashion. Let me explain.
When we finished working this afternoon, Dan, Laura, and I went to Starbucks to hang out. Normal thing to do, right? Usually, yes. In America, yes, this is normal. But no. Not normal. VERY special.
The best way to describe what transpired this evening is that I took part in a pilgrimage to a sacred space. The three of us ventured out into the cold, dark night, crossing the street in front of our school, skillfully navigating our way across the flow of cars and buses. We found a taxi and began our journey.
The first stop on our journey was at another university, where we joined our friends and travelling companions. We had a Chinese “guide” – a student friend from the other university – who helped us get reliable transportation. Our driver brought us near to the site, but we had to finish the journey on foot. As we neared our destination, our hearts grew bright with anticipation and we danced and sang as we walked down the street (Literally. That really happened). At long last we spotted the beautifully familiar green and white sign, a symbol to us of the familiar, the known, the reliably wonderful.
SHOUTS of joy escaped our lips, Dan and Shelley sprinted across the street, and we posed for pictures in front of the building. We were filled with joy, peace, and utter delight. Walking inside, we were overjoyed and relieved by the familiar sights, sounds (American Christmas music), and smells (COFFEE). No matter what chaos and noise we meet outside on the street, in that building there is a haven of peace and rest. We had reached the destination of our pilgrimage. |
| There's a SQUIRREL on that cup!!!! |
The whole time, we were thanking and praising our Father, our Creator, our Savior – the One who gives and loves far more abundantly than we deserve.
I wish I were exaggerating, but I’m also really glad that I’m not. I’m so grateful for tonight, for the rest and comfort found in familiar spaces and foods, for the joy and blessing of fellowship with good friends, for the surprise of meeting new friends – Angela, the student from Lin Da and a family who is studying Chinese at another university in town, whose lovely daughter we were more than happy to play with for about an hour.
Perhaps some of you think it is absurd to refer to this outing as a pilgrimage, maybe rightly so. But tonight really was spiritually significant. No, I don’t worship the god of coffee, and Starbucks is not a temple; but there is something holy in what happens in coffee shops. There is fellowship, camaraderie, peace, and healing to be found sitting among friends and strangers, talking and laughing, enjoying delicious beverages. This is perhaps what I have missed most since coming to China.
There are few coffee shops here, we have few opportunities to visit them, and most of them are not conducive to sitting and talking for long periods of time. It was worth the time, the effort, and the money it took to make this glorious evening possible, to visit this newly opened beacon of rest and peace and predictability in the midst of a city and a people in desperate need of those things. No, Starbucks is not the answer to people’s problems. Yes, I am GLAD they are here in Harbin.
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| Thank you, Starbucks, for this delightful Chinglish. |
