The cafe is quiet this morning. All the little shelves are perfectly stocked, pastries sit on display so elegantly and enticing, and baristas stand ready to work, catching up with each other as they wait for customers. The large, heavy, antique white pillars divide the space handsomely, the lights frames with heavy rod iron and the suede leather chairs inside help the pillars add a touch of masculinity to the cafe. The white ceiling with black scroll work, and the little leaf plants on each table finish off the feminine touches, while the wooden tables and floors bring a sense of organic and calm to the beautifully upscale cafe. Through the glass to the back cold storage room, are fresh vegetables perfectly stacked in clear boxes, sitting on minimal, metal shelving, of fine black rods, waiting to be chopped up and devoured for the next salad or sandwich. Quiet, charming jazz is playing through the speakers, adding to the ambience of the upscale and elegant cafe.

Outside the floor to ceiling windows I am sitting by, the sun is just starting to light the sky, gradually highlighting the dark, enormous mountains right outside the window. The outdoor patio reminds me of the South of France, where French charm meets the Mediterranean. All of the black patio seats are lined with the classic green and white stripped seat cushions. The thick, apricot-pink stucco wall surrounding the patio allows for a bit of privacy, and yet still connection to its outside world through the beautiful, slick black, rod iron window decorations, and a matching gate on the far end to welcome guests. Right outside of the gate is also a tall, sturdy pine, glistening away with all of its Christmas lights still.

As the sun starts to rise, the sunlight is steadily changing the mountains from the dark, vast silhouettes, to the picturesque scene that they bring in the daytime. The pops of soft, graphite grey mixed with the deep green of all the pine trees climbing the sides of the mountains just up the street from this cafe is majestic. The sky above the mountains is slowly fading from the deep, midnight blue to an illuminating sea sky blue above.

People are starting to wake up and come out for their morning coffee, as they slowly wonder into the shop here and there. Some perfectly dressed, hair done, makeup on, ready for the day, and others clearly out to just grab a cup of coffee and then worry about getting made up for the day ahead. A few look like they have all of the time in the world to relax and enjoy, as a few others look like they are scrambling with too many things on their list for today.

As we probably already know, God asks us to make sure we do not overload ourselves with work. He wants us to be productive, but not to the point of being burdened and not having time with Him. He wants us to live in His joy, which we can only receive when we set aside some time to be with Him, no matter the time of day. Even five minutes is better than nothing for starting to change up our schedule. This pause also helps us be more grateful, which can help us to want to slow down our pace of life a bit and realize what is truly important to us.