So I was standing in line at Starbucks, doing my usual coffee routine, and I saw one of the baristas, Carla, in the background taking orders for the drive-through. She’s talking on one of those hands-free headphone things, so I can only hear her side of the conversation:
“Is that you Barbara? How’s it going?”
…………………
“Awesome!”
………………….
“OK… Is that decaf? The usual?”
………………..
“Yeah, I know. That must have been great.”
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“All right hon, that’s $4.50.″
The car drives up to the window, and I watch her conducting the transaction. As I walk over to the counter for milk, I hear Carla’s parting comment to the customer:
“Ok, see you soon. I love ya!”
What?
You could practically hear the dubbed-in record scratch as I did an audible double-take. Did she really just tell that customer that she loves them?
This blatant profession of love in the midst of public enterprise made me cringe - and melt, all at once. Part of me, the Jesus-Spirit-Christian part, wanted to wave palm branches in her general direction for establishing a new pinnacle of customer service (Take that, Zappos!). But the buttoned-up business manager in me was tapping his foot, questioning the appropriateness of that exchange.
To read the rest of this post at The High Calling site, click here.
