Ode to an Office

Before becoming a Christian (yesterday was the 31st anniversary of my salvation), I frequently went to nightclubs. By 1991, I already cut back on that. Besides the often negative lyrics in the songs played, I didn’t like dealing with smoke-filled rooms. Although my spiritual life matured, I missed having a place just to hang out. 

Then in 1999, I started going to Caribou Coffee, a chain of coffeehouses based in Minnesota. A friend and I regularly met at one in Maple Grove. At the time, it was the closest Caribou to our church. My friend referred to it as our “office.” We studied our Bibles there while drinking coffee. It was also a mission field. We often led people to the Lord in the area. 


Until then, I hadn’t been much of a coffee drinker. Gradually, I developed a taste for Caribou Coffee. One thing I like about going there is free refills of their Coffee of the Day while you remain in the store. I prefer arriving in the morning. They start the day with two choices of regular coffee and one decaffeinated. By afternoon, one of the regular flavors is eliminated. Sometimes the only choices left are dark roast coffee (which I’m not fond of).


Because of transportation issues, I didn’t go to my original office much while making return visits to the Twin Cities area. One stopover was made in 2010 (when the above photo was taken). A fellow minister drove us from Wisconsin to North Dakota. I requested we stop by my office again in Maple Grove “for old times’ sake.”  


Earlier this month, I drove to this Caribou Coffee after attending a rally for truckers on an overpass in Maple Grove. To my surprise, the coffee shop had closed down. It was an empty shell. Even all the signs were gone. So I went to a different Caribou. Another friend jokingly says I have offices all over the country. Still, I will miss going to the original.


Caribou Coffee has this registered slogan: “Life is short. Stay awake for it.” With that in mind, I close with this poem:


Whether you’re a girl or boy

Caribou has coffee you can enjoy

Cold drinks are available if you want the chills

I’m content to get free refills 

While I worked on my laptop or studied the word

I also shared the gospel with those who haven’t heard

If you haven’t received Jesus as your Lord

Better do so now before the snapping of your silver cord

There’s no guarantee your life will be long

Eternity is a long time to be wrong


“whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” - James 4:14


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