B E H I N D / T H E / B A R

I’ve really become more acquainted with 2 a.m. as of late.  That seems to be the time of day, when my body and brain seem to be running at full throttle.  Wide awake, contemplating so many decisions, plans, and to-do lists.

Today we commence our move from Patten Parkway to 11 East 7th Street in downtown Chattanooga.  I’m a little – no – I’m a lot overwhelmed by the thought of moving a coffee shop north 2 blocks and west 2 blocks. That may not seem like a big move, but at this moment we might as well be moving to Tanzania.

I’ve moved my family twelve times,  we’ve even moved our church, I’ve been involved in an administrative office expansion, but I’ve never moved a business before.  I’ve looked  and there is no black and yellow Moving Coffee Shops for Dummies in print.

The goal for the day is to move and re-install our bar, while our staff packs the sundries of the shop into boxes.  Tomorrow we plan to enlist a small army of people to help with the moving of equipment and supplies, then later in the week we plan to unpack, setup, and be ready for a soft opening a week from today.  That plan seemed good yesterday, but this morning at 2 a.m. I’m rethinking  – a lot.  How do we get the refrigerators in AFTER we get the bar in?  That’ll never work.  Oh man!!!  What if?  What about ???  HOW ARE WE???? AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I toss and turn, beads of sweat popping out all over my body, my mouth is dry, I can’t get comfortable, I roll back and forth, trying not to wake my sleeping beauty.  Finally, I just get up come to the living room, vent a little here at Behind/The/Bar and pray.  After all, I think that’s the point of these 2 a.m. brainstorms.  Every single one of them, drive me to the same place.  I pack up my million and one questions and bring them to God.

Why?

Because He has the answers.

Why else?

Because He cares.  Yep, He cares that I’m freakin’ out about the Great Move Of 2014.  More importantly He cares about me.

That’s why I can go to Him with crazy, abnormal questions and know that He will answer.  I doubt that anyone else in the world at this moment is asking Him, “God, how do I move a coffee shop?”  That’s okay, because amongst all of the petitions, cries, intercessions, weepings and gnashings of teeth He is listening to right now, He’s fully focused on helping me figure out how to get refrigerators moved from one place to another.

Question – What’s keeping you awake at 2 a.m.?  Have you tried to God about it.  It can’t hurt.  It’ll probably help. Besides I think I get better reception at 2 a.m.  Not sure why, just feels that way.

Thanks for reading my rant.  I’m going to go talk to Him now.  While I’m there, I’ll ask Him to encourage your heart too, that He will remind you today that you can go to Him about anything, at 2 a.m. or any time.  Cast your cares on Him, ask Him the tough questions.  He has the answers, AND He cares..

. . .casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.                                                                       1 Peter 5:7