Whenever I go to the NTNL Mission office in Dallas I like to
stop at the Starbucks at the corner of TX 183 and Mockingbird Lane. It is
perhaps the busiest and nosiest Starbucks on the planet. I’m not sure why since
it is also one of the most difficult to get to given one way lanes and limited
parking and Dallas drivers that don’t drive Texas Friendly.® It’s not that the
patrons are noteworthy. They are pretty typical Venti, no fat, triple shot,
apricot la-de-da whatever Lattes. The only thing that makes this SB stand out
is that the half dozen baristas periodically break into singing things like “Row,
Row, Row Your Boat” and other classics at the top of their lungs. It might be
that after seeing you circle three times trying to park they just want to make
it worth your while once you've arrived or maybe they just like to sing loudly but
whatever the reason they seem to be enjoying themselves. And while I've never
joined the song their singing always orders up a Venti no fat smile. I think
that’s what Jesus is praying for in John 17. Not singing at Starbucks, but a
unity of mind and spirit and purpose that like a loudly sung song in a public
place prompts a response. And if the world would witness a people who sing with
unrestrained joy about Jesus, even if they can’t carry a tune, and serve the
other out of love because it’s the right thing to do then I think they might
make the effort to overcome one way lanes and limited parking and less than
friendly drivers just to join the song and share in the Jesus Venti no fat lifestyle.
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