A Panera State of Mind

There are many times that I am traveling and find my way to the local Panera to take advantage of their wonderful food and their free Wi-Fi. Now that Starbucks has realized that providing free Wi-Fi is a no-brainer you would think I would try to hit there more often. Not so. It is about loyalty for me. Panera is like a trusted friend. You know the kind of experience you are going to have pretty much at any Panera. I guess the same is true of Starbucks since I have visited many of them while traveling internationally, but Panera has something that Starbucks does not; it has many memories of times that Sondra and I just sit and talk and plan and dream and generally hang out. I think it started because Panera provided free Wi-Fi and I got used to going there so naturally, you go where you feel most comfortable and valued.

We like going places where we feel that people are valued. People will put up with a lot of challenges when they still feel valued over stuff. I am sitting at a Panera in Richmond, Va writing this right now watching people stream into it and listening to some of their stories. Lots of couples and friends coming in greeting one another. Some carrying their Bibles and other resources meeting in accountability. Hugs, handshakes, smiles, and even a few tears at times. People doing life together. People encouraging, listening, interviewing, and enjoying one another.

Sort of reminds me of church or at least what church is designed to be. People living life together. People unified but not dependent on every one seeing all of life exactly the same way. People desiring to be in fellowship and relationship with one another. People accepting them the way they are but not letting them stay that way if there are things in their life that God is showing them that change/transformation is needed. People loving one another enough to challenge and encourage. When people feel like they are relegated to just keeping the programs running that when programs are more important than them, those people will begin to look for places where they are valued over the stuff. May all churches value people and their lives being transformed far and above more than just keeping the programs running for the sake of the church.

Oh, another thing about Panera, their bagels and their Strawberry/Poppy Seed Salad are wonderful.