I’m sitting here, enjoying a week off of my full-time job, soaking in the atmosphere at The Meeting Place on Market. It really is a gathering place of diversity, and I love that!
I’m sitting in the area known as the Terrace, at a little round table with two chairs. My laptop is open, I’m plugged into the wall, and enjoying the free wi-fi. To the right of me is a table of three ladies wearing dresses and enjoying conversation with frozen mochas, lattes, and quesadillas. Next to the window sits the pastor of a downtown church, soaking in the sun as he writes.
View from the Terrace – looking at Trinity Methodist Church. Photo by Elaine McCormack.
To my left, in the area called the Pub, for its chess board topped tables and dark interior, sits two friends enjoying conversation over coffee in a comfortable booth. Another booth is taken up by a young man brainstorming over a notebook (since I know him, I’m guessing he’s writing songs). A businessman is sipping his coffee with skim milk while he works diligently on his top-of-the-line laptop. Hopefully he’s not noticing my jealous looks as I type on my dinosaur of a laptop.
In the Dining Room area, with large tables suited for meetings, a table full of young professionals, in casual clothes and carrying portfolios, are talking. I’m not sure what they are discussing, but it looks very interesting.
Our private meeting room is taken up by a pastor couple of another downtown church and their team, whom we enjoy hosting often.
I just tried our new peanut butter flavoring in a mocha – awesome! And of course, I couldn’t do without an “everything” bagel with ranch cream cheese (my fav).
So The Meeting Place on Market is a true gathering place for people of all shapes, colors and sizes. I love the vibrancy such diversity of use allows! What energy exudes in allowing people to be who they are, without the need to fit into a certain stereotype.
“For those who have seen the Earth from space, and for the hundreds and perhaps thousands more who will, the experience most certainly changes your perspective. The things that we share in our world are far more valuable than those which divide us.” – Donald Williams
