A Stranger at Starbucks
How a brief moment of irritation in a Bogotá coffee shop turned into a conversation about joy, struggle, and God.
Some of the most meaningful lessons in life arrive quietly. Not in churches, not in classrooms, but in ordinary places like a coffee shop.
Today, I experienced one of those moments.
I woke up in Bogotá, Colombia, and went down for breakfast. Something was unusual. The regular waitress, Rosa, was not there. The kitchen staff seemed confused, and there was a sense of chaos among them. Orders were delayed, people were moving around quickly, and nobody seemed fully in control of the situation.
I simply finished my breakfast quietly and left.
After breakfast, I walked nearly a kilometer to a Servibanca ATM to withdraw some money — one of the Colombian ATMs that allows foreigners to withdraw 2,000,000 COP (about CAD 730 / USD 540).
The morning passed slowly.
I sat on the hotel terrace sofa for a long time doing nothing in particular.
No rush, no pressure.
Just stillness.
These days, I have learned to practice stillness and have quiet conversations with God.
Later in the afternoon, my friend Sebastián and I planned to meet at 3 PM at a Starbucks in Zona T — one of the most happening areas of Bogotá.
Bogotá traffic can be intense, but the café was within reach and I arrived on time.
When I entered the coffee shop, I found a round table and sat down with a cappuccino and a Muffin de Arándanos (blueberry muffin).
Across the table from me was a man who had placed his feet on the table.
Immediately I told him to take his feet off the table.
He didn’t like that.
For a brief moment, tension filled the space between us.
His face showed irritation.
My voice had been firm.
We exchanged a few uncomfortable words, and then both of us returned to our own silence.
My friend Sebastián never arrived. He later sent pictures explaining that the kitchen in his family home had a problem and workers were fixing it. Life happens. I told him we could meet the next day at my favorite café, Quadratto Café, in the Teusaquillo area of Bogotá.
So there I was, sitting in Starbucks, reading a few pages from an O.S. Guinness book (The Call) and reflecting on God’s provision in my life.
After a while, I went to the restroom.
When I came back, the same man was sitting nearby.
Something inside me said, Just talk to him.
So I sat next to him and started a friendly conversation.
Within minutes, his entire attitude softened. He began sharing pieces of his life story. When he learned that I worked as an infrastructure architect, his eyes lit up. His son worked in a data center, and he became curious. He asked questions about servers, networks, and the future of the industry.
The tension that existed earlier simply disappeared.
At one point, our conversation moved into deeper territory.
I explained the difference between happiness and joy and even showed him one of my blog posts titled When Loneliness Stops Hurting.
Happiness depends on circumstances.
Joy comes from something deeper.
Happiness is external.
Joy is internal.
Happiness can disappear at a coffee table.
But joy can remain even in hardship.
The man also shared his own life struggles, travels, and personal experiences.
He opened up.
As the conversation ended, the man looked at me and said quietly, “Sorry about earlier.”
I smiled and replied, “I’m sorry too.”
We shook hands.
Then he left.
Suddenly, a thought came into my mind.
Perhaps God wanted me to talk to this man.
I do not know why.
But we spoke about Him.
Two hours earlier we had been irritated strangers. Yet before leaving, we parted as two men who had shared a conversation about life struggles, joy, happiness, and God.
The entire moment reminded me of a simple biblical truth.
The book of Proverbs says:
“A gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1).
It is a verse many people read but rarely practice.
When anger appears, our instinct is usually to defend ourselves, escalate the argument, or avoid the person entirely.
But sometimes all it takes is a small step toward peace.
A conversation.
A listening ear.
A moment of humility.
Jesus himself taught something very similar. In the Sermon on the Mount he said:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
Peacemaking does not always require grand gestures. Sometimes it simply means choosing not to hold on to irritation.
Later that evening, I took an Uber back to my hotel.
The rest of the night was quiet.
I bought some food, picked up a cookie, and gave it to the receptionist at the front desk as a small gesture of kindness.
It was not an extraordinary day.
There were no major achievements.
No big victories.
But somewhere between a tense moment at Starbucks and a simple handshake with a stranger, I was reminded of something important.
Peace often begins with a small decision.
A decision not to hold on to anger.
A decision to start a conversation.
And sometimes, in the most ordinary places — like a Starbucks table in Bogotá — God quietly reminds us how simple kindness can change the tone of a moment.
Life rarely needs dramatic miracles to teach us wisdom.
Sometimes it just needs two strangers willing to talk.
About the Author
Lawrence Manickam is a servant of the Lord and founder of Calvary International Mission. Born in India, shaped in Canada, and carrying Mexican permanent residency, he lives an international life, sharing the love of Christ across cultures. In July 2024, he completed his Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling at Liberty University, Virginia.
He is the author of three Christian books:
📘 Free From Lo-Debar
A journey into restoration, identity, and the God who brings His children out of forgotten places.
📘 Hearing the Holy Spirit in Everyday Moments
A collection of true encounters, testimonies, and reflections on learning the voice of the Holy Spirit in daily life.
📘 Trump & Jesus (Pre-Order)
A bold and provocative exploration of leadership, faith, culture, and the spiritual forces shaping American history.
If you need biblical counseling, prayer support, or simply a listening ear, feel free to contact him.
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