Lessons in Latte Art
I recently started a job as a barista at a new local coffee shop. The owners are originally from L.A. where their first cafe is located, so as you might assume, they are the real deal when it comes to coffee nerds. Since I’m still in training, much of my shifts involve cleaning, taking orders, and talking to customers. All in all, it’s a pretty fun arrangement, but I can’t wait until I start making all the coffees on my own. Each day, I get one tiny step closer to grasping latte art.
All too frequently, I’ll try to pull a shot of espresso to lend the lead barista a hand only to be told it isn’t quite right and I’ll have to do it again. Experienced baristas can tell something isn’t right about the coffee just by looking at the viscosity and color of the espresso coming out of the machine. Guess being well versed in my rinky-dink home espresso machine isn’t quite enough for the commercial standard…
That’s the irony about pursuing competency in a new area. It’s a given that a beginner will need time to sharpen their skills. As Malcom Gladwell said, it takes an estimated 10,000 hours of practice to achieve real mastery of a task (that’ll be a lot of coffees!).
I got this job because I wanted to see if I liked working in a coffee shop before I try to open one in Tokyo, but, from where I stand at week three on the job, I know that level of competency is far off. Like embarking on a long hike, you stand at the foot of the mountain and can’t help but sigh as you see how long and hard is the journey ahead of you.
The Christian walk is much the same. At conversion, our souls are justified and we’re saved by grace, but the process of sanctification (of becoming more like Christ) is a life-long endeavor that will only ever come to completion once Jesus returns. I look inside myself at my broken human nature and sigh at how much spiritual maturity I lack. However, just as I have an experienced barista to help train me in the ways of professional grade coffee, we also have an experienced High Priest that lived, died, and rose to reign again in righteousness, guiding us along in a life pleasing to God.
This February, I have the privilege of helping plan and facilitate the Asia Pacific regional retreat in Vietnam. Additionally, I’ll be stopping in Tokyo, Japan beforehand to network with potential future teammates should God open the doors to starting a coffee shop there.
The estimated cost of this 10-day trip is $3,500. Currently, I’m only $250 away from that goal. Praise God! Please prayerfully consider joining me in serving the international workers throughout the Asia Pacific region. Should you feel led to partner financially, feel free to donate via the MTW Online Portal.
May God teach us daily and do far more wonderful things than we ever dream possible.
Rebecca
Looking for the Japanese version of Penelope Panda’s Peculiar Family? Find it on Amazon here!