I sat with my friend in a well-known coffee shop in a
neighbouring town of Venice (Italy), the city of lights and water. As we enjoyed our coffee, a man entered and sat at an
empty table beside us. He called the waiter and placed his order saying, ‘Two cups of coffee, one of them there on the wall.’
We heard this order with rather interest and observed
that he was served with one cup of coffee but he paid for two. As soon as he left, the waiter pasted a piece of paper on
the wall saying ‘A Cup of Coffee’.
While we were still there, two other men entered and
ordered three cups of coffee, two on the table and one on the wall. They had the two cups of coffee but paid for three and
left. This time also, the waiter did the same; he pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying, ‘A Cup of
Coffee’.
It was something unique and perplexing for us. We finished our coffee, paid the bill and left. After a few days, we had a chance to go to this coffee
shop again. While we were enjoying our coffee, a man poorly dressed
entered. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and said,
'One cup of coffee from the wall'.
The waiter served coffee to this man with the customary
respect and dignity. The man had his coffee and left without paying. We were amazed to watch all this, as the waiter took off
a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the dust bin.
Now it was no surprise for us – the matter was very
clear.
The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants
of this town made our eyes well up in tears.
Ponder upon the need of what this man wanted...He enters the coffee shop without having to lower his
self-esteem…he has no need to ask for a free cup of coffee…without asking or knowing about the one who is giving
this cup of coffee to him.
He only looked at the wall, placed an order for himself,
enjoyed his coffee and left. ... probably the most beautiful wall you may ever see
anywhere....!!!
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