Coffee corner, lighter

My royal eminence, Sometimes God has a solid way of reminding us how deep our potential goes and how clearly it will manifest. This was the case with Mr Andrew Paul Lanster.

So he woke up super optimistic and since he was a plotter for the day, a well scheduled to-do list was planned out. He felt good about being done on time and he looked good too. He stepped out the house and locked it, down the hall, he bumped into his neighbors kid and her little friends who get this; were carrying tiny buckets of mud for a cooking game or whatever. Bruh. Kids are clumsy, we know this, so she tripped and fell, and got mud all over Drew's sneakers. Drew took in two heavy breaths, as his instincts slowly whispered, "Dawg, this 'bout to be a long a** day." His instincts were correct. He didn't move, he stood there and watched the kids screaming and crying like it's them who got mud all over.

But children will always be children and that took Drew's attention. He remembered his uncle telling him one time, " Don't focus so much on your own pain, that you forget the pain of others. Don't be self conceited and think that you're the only one that's hurting in this world. There are people who go through pain, without dragging everyone and everything in it." In other words, don't be childish. Drew sucked it up, rushed back home for a quick change and decided to try again.

He was walking down the street, trying to maintain his optimism, when he noticed the clouds were kind of heavy, and a shade darker.

He was certain it was going to rain because it was the rainy season,and he knew he was in trouble because,he didn't even think of an umbrella.

Note: if you have a feeling that the weather will betray you that day, please, the weather will very much betray you that day.

That's right, it started raining. He was so far from home there was no going back. So he took his 'L' and moved forward, got rained on, tried to look for some shelter, there was none.

Such is life though.

He finally got to the coffee shop, drenching wet and annoyed AF. He sat down at his favorite spot and just ordered some f****** coffee.

"You can't get mad at weather because weather is not about you."

When he was through, he took a bike back home, (I don't think I would risk walking either). He pulled out his journal and tried to write but had nothing to say. So he prayed harder than the day before, and went to bed knowing tomorrow is Saturday, and Saturdays are good days. Besides, he's going to be pansting and it shouldn't be that difficult to just go with the flow.

This is true, In fact, #confession, everything went a little too well.

"Divine intervention will have you thinking that your whole world is falling apart when really the universe is just moving things around to upgrade your life."

So our guy woke up somewhere between midday, fresh and ready to freestyle the hell out of that Saturday. He peeped out the door before leaving, just in case there's kids running around with suspicious buckets.

No adult wants to loose two pairs of sneakers that fast. LMAO. The sun was shining, the skies were blue, everybody was minding their business, it was a good day. He got to the coffee shop and ordered coffee. He then took out his journal and just stared at it, for a very long time. Some 15 mins ago though, an ex-army dude walked in and ordered some coffee too. He was sitting right across the table next to Drew's who was so entangled in his own energy field, that he didn't take notice.

He looked hella blue. So the old guy decided to extend some grace. "Young blood! 'Sup!" Drew looked up and saw the guy smiling at him, so he smiled back. "Ol'G 'Sup!" Of course a fist bump was in order. "Now, I might not know what you thinking 'bout, but I'mma tell you this, staring at blank pages ain't gon' get them words in there. HA!"

They both laughed so loud, everyone in the room looked at them very displeased, but after what he had been through the previous day, he didn't give a s*#@ what anyone thought about him. I call it freedom.

And he was starting to feel it.

"I've been on some journey for the last two days. I'm just trying to figure out which kind of writer I am."

"Ah, lemmi guess, plotter or panster, right?"

"... yeah, that's right.

Tried being a plotter for a day but whenever things didn't go my way, I felt like a failure. This pansting business, on the other hand, has no inspiration at all."

"Look, my daughter is waiting for me outside, so..."

"Wow, dude what?"

"I'll make this quick, listen, if you're in a cloud right now, it means you're doing too much."

Offended drew jumping back in the conversation...

"Doing too much? Mahn you don't even know me WTH?"

"Calm down, I'm trying to say that writing isn't military, it's an art. Don't try to figure out your art, figure out, you.

Are you the kind of guy that like having everything planned out so that it runs faster and more smoothly, or are you the kind of guy that likes the freedom that comes with being flexible and open to changes and plot twists?

'cause, hey! you'll have to deal with either being confined to one plan, or having no plan which makes you stuck.

Have this in mind though, choosing one means you'll miss out on all the experiences the other has to offer, when you can just find a way to work around them."

The whole time the guy was talking, Drew's eyes were growing bigger, and his face glowing brighter. He was remembering some high school class back in the day.

"when opposing forces are balanced so that one is not stronger or greater than the other..."

"Equilibrium." He confidently spoke out.

Sir, the answer I'm looking for is equilibrium."

"There you go!"

Drew, since he hadn't been this excited in a while, dived into his journal and started writing. He stopped again, looked up to thank the Ol'G but he was already at the door leaving. Of course, his daughter was waiting for him outside, duuh!

He tried to run after him but the waitress slowed him down, told him to pay first, blah blah,

he rushed out but the guy was nowhere in sight. All he could see was a bright day and the beautiful sun.

"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again, a little while and you will see me."

-John 16:16

He stood out there and took a deep breath. He allowed the sun to burn through his skin . He allowed himself to feel inspiration for the first time in a very long time.

He felt peace.

He felt liberated.

And that felt good.

He looked around and saw balance in God's creation. He is, God's creation and that was his mission.

To find balance in himself.

"Excuse me, Mr. Andrew Planster."

The same waitress interrupted his thoughts, reading his name from the cover of his journal.

"Ow, My bad, P. Lanster. with your weird name, here, you forgot your change and your journal and your... Umbrella? like you have one today dude?

Look, the manager thinks you're not doing so well, 'cause like yesterday was just wow, and today? You were staring at blank pages, you haven't touched your coffee at all and a minute ago, you almost ran out without paying the bill,

(I know, a lot of things get lost in translation for a lot of people, especially when they're committed to misunderstanding you. Don't fight it)

... he wants me to let you know that his cousin's a doctor and he could, for sure, get you an appointment 'cause like, you're a loyal customer and all... (Fading away)

You'd want to head back to the very first sentence at the beginning.

BELIEVE.