Irvin Bell's Blog
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe & Lagniappe / Mar 2, 01:25 PM
Sarah, Ruby and I decided to take advantage of the 75-80 degree weather we were blessed with this weekend by taking a trip to the Freret St. Market. We didn’t have to travel far because the market is located in an adjacent neighborhood. This market is open only once a month so people come from all over the city to partake in food (prepared by local chefs), baked goods, hand-made jewelry, paintings and all types of art done by indigenous people. There were tons of kids, dogs (some up for adoption), snakes and my favorite, live Jazz. It was an awesome event. There were young and old, rich and poor. There were Blacks and Whites, even shades of Red and Yellow. All gathered in one of the more economically challenged neighborhoods of New Orleans. Although the food and atmosphere were heavenly, there was one couple who seemed to have more of an impact, than the festival itself, on me this weekend.
I want to say that there names are Richard and Phyllis Dal Degan. Our interaction was very short and I’m not that very good with names, so I’m not sure. However, they manned a booth with pounds of exotic coffees. You java lovers could probably imagine how intoxicating the aroma was around this booth. I decided to try some and narrowed my choices down to a Peruvian roast (medium-bodied with a clean finish) and an Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Both were labeled “fair trade, certified organic” and both were delicious. But the Ethiopian, I fell in love with. So, I asked “what type of payments do you take”. He responded, “Cash or check”. I had neither, so the ladies and I walked a half mile to the nearest ATM; we didn’t want to lose our parking space that was two blocks off the market. We found it by luck. When we got back I made a “beeline” to the booth, but I didn’t see any more of the beans I wanted. Maybe there was more stashed in one of the boxes stacked under the table. I asked if there was and Richard replied, “I’m sorry, but I have more at home. I could roast some tonight and bring it to you in the morning.” I made sure to let this seeming nice white man know that I stayed not too far away in Central City, to give him an opportunity to say that we could meet somewhere, since he didn’t have a store. But, he insisted on delivering the coffee. I gave him my card and jotted down my address on the back. After one phone call that evening to verify that I still wanted to purchase it, he showed up Sunday morning (he and his wife) on a sweet two-seater, candy apple red cruiser. In my heart I felt that it would be less than fair not to give him a little “lagniappe”, a little something extra for delivering such a good product for such a low price. It was the least I could do. So, I let him in. He asked me about the ministry on the business card as I was walking to get cash from the bedroom. I turned and gave a short description of what Mission Year is. I paid him and offered a somewhat generous tip, and he said “OH NO!”, “No Need for that”. But, does your ministry take donations? ” Um, sure”, I said a bit puzzled. He said he thought we were doing a great work and it would be a pleasure for him to do so. I gladly accepted. Whatever happened to this type of customer service?
What if all Christians, churches, ministries, and missions took this same approach towards service? Not only providing a service, but delivering the services with a smile and giving a little “lagniappe” whenever possible. I often get discouraged when we as Christians have services and assistance that God’s consumers are in need of, but we insist on their assimilation and participation in our agenda in order to receive the blessings ear-marked for them in the first place. Who are we to add taxes on God’s blessings? Who are we, as delivery men and women for Christ, to require those in need to pick up their order? Or tell them they must dine in?
The disciple Peter is often ridiculed for denying he knew Jesus and for loosing faith while he was on the water with Jesus. But, he was the only one with enough faith to get out of the boat. American churches, in my opinion, are in danger of becoming versions of the “USS Titanic of Righteousness”, and unless we are courageous enough to change our “sitting in the boat with my friends” frame of mind, we’ll continue to sink.
Jesus brought salvation to us, here on Earth. He spent His life traveling from land to land offering the services He provides. He did not wait for the “check or the bill”, but He marched to Calvary to pay the price of our sins with His blood. He then decided to give us “lagniappe” by leaving the Holy Spirit with us. That’s what I call service!
What do you call service?
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