I’m in Starbucks. A man is playing “Fairest Lord Jesus” followed by “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood” on a flute, the couple next to me is smooching and making loud smacking noises with their lips, the espresso machine is shooting out steaming milk and the Grateful Dead is swearing, over and over again in the background, that they will get by. Fine for them. I’m not sure I will. This place that has long been my office away from home is starting to give me a headache. Meanwhile, three mothers come in with their babies in buggies fit for a road trip — all three talking at once as if they were trying to be heard across the Grand Canyon. I’m not sure I can work here anymore.

This particular Starbucks is across the street from the San Juan Capistrano Mission and it can fill up in a minute with tourists and school kids on field trips. The store is conveniently located a block from where I drop Chandler off for school — a half hour’s drive from home, and the reason I like to stay here on the days I drive is to save the added hour back and forth since I will be needing to be back here by 2:30 in the afternoon to bring him home. It’s convenient, but lately I’ve been noticing that I get irritable by about 1:00 p.m. and I don’t know why. Now I know. It’s the constant level of noise I unconsciously put up with as it rises and falls all day long.

Yet it’s the noise of life, and no one is being asked to respect the fact that this is doubling as my office. They most certainly don’t have to adjust to me; I must adjust to them, and if I can no longer work here, then I should find another place more suitable to my needs.

Ever wish the world were like this — that you could go to another one down the street when this one gets too crowded or uncomfortable? Some people are trying to create another world inside this one that’s safer, more manageable, and not inflicted with things like the homeless, the poor and those we find objectionable.

Suddenly the man playing hymns on his flute seems quite appropriate. He’s actually quite good and the sound is somehow soothing. Finding a way to worship God in the middle of this world seems more the thing to do than come up with another, more worshipful world. We’re going to do the worshiping anyway; no one can do this for us.

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.

I like this guy — playing his flute for free in a crowded Starbucks. Reminds me of a lyric by Joni Mitchell

I was standing on a noisy corner
Waiting for the walking green
Across the street he stood
And he played real good
On his clarinet, for free.

I think this is a good metaphor for how to be in the world — not trying to leave it, or change it, but gladly bringing a bit of beauty to it.

I recently heard about a guy who wanted to start a Christian coffeehouse to reach the non-Christians in his community until He thought more about it and realized the community already had a coffeehouse just down the street and perhaps he should just go there.