Latte for Lent.

What if every latte art heart is a small but powerful reminder—some beauty exists for no other reason than your delight?

As we head into Lent, I can think of at least one thing that I’m not about to give up:  my morning Lattes!  I know.  I know!  It’s so bougie (pronounced, “boo’.jee) and expensive!  I sometimes imagine my grandparents shaking their head in disbelief as they try to comprehend coffee with no free refills!  But here’s the thing, if you could distill the essence of a grandma’s hug down into liquid form, what you’d end up with is a sweetened latte!  No question.  The baristas at my neighborhood café, have mastered this artform.  Yesterday, Kayla, who’s my daughter Lizzie’s age, poured the last milky froth in her mini-pitcher over the top of my beverage.  With practiced skill, she formed a perfect, frothy heart in my cup.  When she handed it to me, I said, “Oh!  Look at that!  You must love me?”  She smiled and said, “Yes…I do!”  I decided to believe her.  Lent or no Lent, why in God’s name would I deprive myself of that?    

I enjoy these little indulgences about twice a week.  Each cup, with its custom made frothy artwork of flowers, pine trees, mountains, or hearts, brings to mind a conviction about art work that took shape for me in Saint Peter’s Basilica in 1989. 

You can’t look anywhere in the sunny cavern of Saint Peter’s without beholding a piece of amazing artwork.  After I’d done all the gawking one human being can stand, it was time for me to take a look inward.  I knelt down to pray.  Just as I got started I noticed a little parable unfolding  catty-corner to my right.  A woman, maybe thirty years-old, was weeping as she knelt, head in hands.  Here was a living New Testament illustration of the First Beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”  Walking past her every thirty seconds or so, were picture-taking groups of museum gawkers.  The contrast was so stark.  It occurred to me, that to God, the most important artwork in this church was embodied in the woman praying next to me.  Furthermore, I thought, “In the fullness of time, every painting, every sculpture, and every brick in this church will eventually deteriorate.  What won’t pass away is the everlasting beauty of this woman’s never-to-be-replicated individuated spirit. 

It seems to me that the very best of us in my religious tradition of Catholicism are the ones who have an eye to detect God’s artwork with a sense of childlike wonder.  For mystics like Julian of Norwich, or Thomas Keating, God is like Kayla, my latte barista.  There is a deep need to create beauty, and to create it for no other reason than the delight of the receiver!  Breathtaking don’t you think?  Behind every stunning desert sunset, behind the intricacy of every infant’s hand, is an infatuated smile saying , “I kinda thought you might like that!”      

Some Ideas for Lenten Practices (whether or not you are Catholic)

• Form a Discussion Group Around Your SMC (Sunday Morning Cafe) Habit

Last week’s edition of SMC made this claim:

“Love endures.  The most important move to make in our dark times is to develop an intentional, defiant practice of love.  A necessary condition for this practice of love is to find a blessed community of fellow-wayfarers who are equally as defiant and intentional in moving toward the Light.”

If you are a regular SMC reader, could you put together a discussion group around these weekly reflections?  At the end of each article you will find “dialogue” questions.  Be sure to add some of your own. 

Growing Wonder This Lent

The early Twentieth Century philosopher, Max Scheler, described “wonder” as an essential attribute for living a fully human life.  For Scheler, growing a sense of wonder naturally leads to a more developed sense of duty and morality.  Where do you regularly go to experience wonder?  This Lent, could you commit to getting out into nature at least once-a-week? 

Intentionally Deepen a Non-Romantic Relationship

Two weeks ago, on a Presidents’ Day holiday to Sedona, Arizona, I meandered into a coffee shop that intentionally had no WIFI.  The owner told me, “We did that on purpose.  We want our customers to put down their phones and laptops to connect with each other.”  That reminded me why I started writing, “Sunday Morning Cafe” all those years ago.  I hoped to create a space for real reflection and dialogue. 

This Lent, is there a relationship that could go deeper if you took the risk and asked a friend for regular time in the calendar to hang out?  It is impossible to pursue an inner life without warm and close friends (not just friends who recreate together). 

Beauty Checks with a Twist

In addition to building a practice of noticing and savoring beauty, see if you can try on the idea that behind God’s artwork, there is an artist smiling at you saying, “I kinda thought you might enjoy that!”  In other words, take beauty personally, like it’s a gift from somebody infatuated with you.  Perhaps think back, and locate a person you remember who really did take delight in you.  If it helps, use that face in your spiritual practice.