Have you ever traveled to the Pacific Northwest? I spent the last two days in Spokane, Washington speaking about sex trafficking and was different from Atlanta, Georgia.
One thing I knew about Washington is they take their coffee seriously.
Starbucks, the coffee shop that is most recognizable around Georgia and the world, was founded in Seattle, Washington. I expected to see them everywhere; however, while in Spokane I discovered a large variety of coffee shops, with Starbucks being the weaker presence.
The majority of their coffee shops are honestly the size of an outhouse and they’re drive through only.
They’re more like coffee huts than coffee shops.
With the schedule I had while I was out there – running from 3 a.m. until 10 p.m. on only 2 1/2 hours sleep- my dear host, Erin Bishop of the Whatever Girls, made sure I sampled just about every coffee shop we saw. My favorite was Dutch Bros. Coffee’s. They have something on the menu called the Annihilator, which is called a chocolate macadamia nut sensation on their menu. I called it a little bit of heaven in a cup.
During my brief stay in Spokane, Erin was my host, my chauffeur, my tour guide, connoisseur of coffee, and PR specialist. I have never felt more honored and treasured as a guest in my life.
Erin welcomed me at the airport and whisked this weary traveler (who had been traveling from 7:30 a.m. EST until 1:30 a.m. EST) to my hotel where I had already been checked in and had a lovely gift bag full of goodies waiting on me. She arrived before God turned the lights on the next day (4:30 a.m.) to take me to KXLY News for an interview. She had the car warm, a bottle of water waiting on me and her first stop of the day was Dutch Bros. Coffee. I already liked Erin from our years of Facebook friendship, but she knew how to drive that friendship peg deep. Throughout my stay, I was treated as an honored guest at every turn. Erin lived our Romans 12:10,
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
I love the way the Common English Bible puts it,
Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other.”
I was humbled beyond measure during my stay in Spokane. Erin wasn’t the only one who lived out a culture of honor. Those I met at KXLY News, the various restaurants we dined in, as all of the many coffee shops we drove through, they all made me feel very welcomed and at home.
The only thing more beautiful than witnessing Scripture come alive is experiencing it.
How do you host people? Do you endure them or embrace them like family? Do you put on a happy face or are you genuinely serving our of the overflow of love in your heart?
Acts 1:8 says we are to be God’s witnesses in our world. Well, friends, those I encountered in Spokane, Washington witnessed well. This traveler gives Erin Bishop, the Whatever Girls, and Spokane, Washington two thumbs up (if I only had more thumbs). I cannot wait to return.
Leave A Comment