ACE #97: Changing the World With One Cup of Coffee at a Time

Pay it forward

- respond to a person's kindness to oneself by being kind to someone else

Over the holiday break, we had the opportunity to visit this quaint, little coffee shop called, "A Cup of Common Wealth".  We thought we were just going to have a gourmet cup of coffee, but we experienced so much more.

When we walked in, we noticed that the place seemed a little "earthy" with its mismatched chairs and tables.  There was this guy sitting in the corner by a large table, two men at one table, two girls behind the counter, and a man sitting in the back corner minding his own business. It wasn't crowded, really.  About 10 minutes later, the place populated times three.  There were no seats left...at all.  We couldn't figure out how this small, unassuming coffee shop could get so crowded, so quickly.  One of the gentlemen at the adjacent table said, "That's how it is.  One minute it's real quiet, the next it's super busy!"  But that wasn't what got our attention - it was the explanation of this:

 

http://acupofcommonwealth.com/

 



That guy we saw sitting in the corner by a large table, his name is Salvador or "Sal" for short.  Of course I asked him several questions, because that's just who I am - a dash of natural curiosity with a smidge of nosey.  He's from Michigan.  He came to Kentucky because he said that he'd done his research and felt that Kentucky had very little "coffee culture".  But something else resonated with us.  He said it was his ministry.  He's the owner of this wonderful little place that doesn't find it robbery to "pay it forward" to others with a cup of coffee just out of kindness - maybe to someone a person knows specifically or maybe to a complete stranger. (Oh, and you get to draw a robot too). 

 

The very same day, I asked a few of my Facebook friends who they would pay it forward to if they had the opportunity.  Here are their responses:

 

- Maybe for a single parent who needs a pick-me-up, or a school/daycare teacher ~ Katie B.

- Do something for parents who have children in the hospital dealing with a life threatening condition ~ Andrew B.

- Do something for homeless individuals or people who have survived abusive situations ~ Emmanuel W.

- Two large cups to that handsome Christian Lewis couple in Versailles ~ Doris C.

 

If you visit "A Cup of Common Wealth", you won't find the commercialization or glamour of Starbucks, but you will find something rare, something unique, something local, something quite beautiful, actually... you'll find community. 



 

 This is what we left...

 

  

 

Luke 6:38

 

³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”