First, COFFEE. For some inexplicable reason people like to give me books about coffee. Examples: A chacun son café (for each one his café), La dolce vita: coffee, The Devil's Cup: coffee, the driving force in history, and the list goes on. In light of the plethora of books on the subject, I am obviously not the only one who imbibes this nectar of life.
Second, COMMON ground. Ideologies polarized people. For example:
Politically: In Russia, not simply bourgeois vs. proletariate, but trotsky-ism vs. stalin-ism.
Economically: In the West, Karl Marx-ism vs. Adam Smith-ism.
Religiously: Since Hus, Luther and Calvin, Catholic-ism vs. Protestant-ism.
Philosophically: Since the French revolution, the-ism vs. human-ism.
Musically: In the '60s, classical music vs. the British rock invasion.
This group reappeared at the half-time show of the 2010 Superbowl. The edge of youthful rebellion seemed a bit tarnished and dull coming from a 66-year old man.
I think the Common Grounds spirit asks, can't we all get along long enough to drink a coffee together to discuss our differences?
The château of St. Albain (see previous entry) was a place that brought down the "us" vs. "them" walls, so that believers could interact with unbelievers in a safe, convivial ambiance.
But that was the '60s and '70s in the French countryside.
At the beginning of the 21st century I wondered, "What would a château-in-the-city look like?" Obviously, one cannot just plop a castle down in the midst of the urban sprawl.
And these places are not exactly affordable even if one were for sale
The church that my wife and I had helped to start was doing well and reaching out to families with young children. But what venue existed to help singles, couples without kids, families with grown children, share Christ with people who would not attend church (most of the people we knew)?
One day, my wife was reading La Vie (yes, a Protestant reading a Catholic magazine!) where she stumbled across an article about a group of ex-hippies who had started a fair trade café in Lyon, France. She thought, "We could do something like that."
Four years later… the Mustard-ville Fair Trade Café was born!
The café looks a lot better in its post-renovation stage
Fair Trade militates against exploitation, attempting to ensure that the coffee producers in the two-thirds world receive a fair wage for their labors. In that way, a coffee-bean-harvesting-father can feed, clothe, house and educate his children.
Fair Trade is concerned about justice. So are Christians. So is Jesus. As a matter of fact Jesus died so that we might be pardoned our injustices.
The Mustard-ville Fair Trade Café provides common ground where people who like coffee, who are concerned about justice in the world, can do good for someone in another part of the world simply by purchasing a cup of Joe. And it allows believers, who are desperately concerned about justice, both personal and corporate, to meet and interact with others upon this common ground.
For example, my wife was part of a literature club. They would read a book, then get together to discuss it. After one of the sessions a man from the group saw a poster for the next InterVaristy Christian Fellowship meeting at the café.
He asked my wife, "Can anyone attend that?"
She replied, "No, it is really just for students."
"Oh that's too bad, because I would be interested in that and have a couple of friends who would be as well."
InterVarsity students at the Fair Trade Café
What does the text say?
What do you think about that?
How do you feel about that?
Great discussions ensued. People were reading the Bible for themselves. My wife and I had plenty of opportunity to interact with them. Good News seed was sown.
All thanks to common ground… and coffee.
