As I open the glass door and step inside, I am greeted by silence, save the light whirrring of the espresso machine, indie music playing quietly in the background, and the hushed conversations of the others who are present. I embrace the sun's warmth that is flooding through the coffee shop's windows, and breathe in the rich aroma of freshly brewed macchiatos and mochas.
I admire the regional artists' handiwork--anything from black and white photographs to humorous drawings with animated colors--that adorn the walls, which are painted in raw, earthen colors that would perhaps remind one of colors tantamount to soil. I make my way farther in, savoring every moment of being here. I walk over to the counter on the west side of the building, and start to study the menu, looking over the myriad of caffeinated choices that have been written with multi-colored chalk--the chalkboard being a masterpiece of art in itself. I decide on ordering a caramel macchiato latte and chat with the kind barista as she prepares the frothy and delicious creation.
After receiving the hot cup and thanking her, I reach for several napkins, and walk back to the front of the coffee shop toward a comfortable corner that is parallel to the entrance. I set my vividly colored Mexican-made bag, which at this point is bulging with its contents, on a small dark-wood table and seat myself on a comfy chair that is right under the window. I take out a few of the contents from my burdened bag, somewhat alleviating it from its hard load. After finding my cell phone, journal, and selection of books (at the time I was reading Chasing Tail Lights by Patrick Jones and The Wounded Spirit by Frank Peretti) and placing them out before me on the table, I take out my blue iPod, and, after untangling the falling-apart ear buds, place them into my ears. I let Willet's song "shelter" wash over me, letting the beautiful lyrics sink in.
There is shelter underneath your wing/A fortress won't be shaken/There is refuge in the tower, that is higher than I/And I try to do justice, and to love mercy/I want to walk humbly with my God/Hope will keep you warm--a little longer/Faith won't leave you cold--makes you stronger/Love will find you, love will find you/The broken road can seem so low/But there's a hand to hold that never lets go/When hope replaces tears,/In our eyes, we see God, glorified/To love Him, to know Him/Is to go where He sends us to go/Where you are, wherever you've been, wherever you're going/Love will find you.
Shelter. The word has so many meanings for me personally, and the coffee shop where I now find myself sitting in seems to be a fitting definition of one. I have jokingly told my friends before that I would like to take up residence here in this coffeehouse on Arrowhead Parkway, to which they just shake their heads and laugh.
The Dunn Bros. Coffeehouse is certainly one of my preferred places where I like to be. It is one of my definitions of "shelter," in that, while I find it a solace where I can rest, reflect, and be refreshed (in so many ways), it also provides me a chance to focus on the One Who is the ultimate definition of the word, and I'm savoring every moment of being here.
