“I think I just met the happiest person in the world,” Ella whispered as she walked into her sterile and quiet office.

She didn’t say this to anyone specifically, but she knew she needed to say it out loud so it really landed in her body.

Earlier that morning, she was walking to the cafe. The same cafe she frequented every weekday morning on her way to work. Most days she’s in a hurried rush, trying desperately to speed up time as she walked from her apartment to the cafe. It was almost as if she was trying to force her legs to move faster than they were designed to move. Like she was on a treadmill and had turned the speed up to 8 but was still trying to force herself to walk even though we all know that at the speed of 8, we’ve got to shift from walk to run.

It was almost as if the flat white coffee that awaited her was magnetically pulling her. She liked the taste ok, but it was the rush she was going for… she was being pulled toward.

She loved rushing. The act of moving quickly and the energy of running late was like the most exciting adrenaline rush for her. Anytime she used her google maps for directions, she was always determined to see how many minutes she could shed off the time Google told her it would take to get to her destination.

On this spring morning, it was as if the streets were singing and laughing yet no humans were doing any such thing. But the trees were. The flowers in pots outside apartments and buildings were. The plants that decorated the median in the middle of the streets were. The air still had a leftover chill from winter, but the sun was inching closer every day and giving the first glimmers of the new season.

Ella slung the door open as per usually and got in line to order her flat white with almond milk. There was a woman in front of her with a smile that was outrageously large and surprisingly contagious. Ella saw it because the woman was looking around the cafe and making eye contact with anyone who was willing to look up from their phones.

Ella, too was on her phone, checking her email but this woman was jarring. She found herself watching her more than she was actually clicking and deleting emails. The woman with the massive smile started humming and swaying.

This was startling for Ella. She thought, what is she doing? Isn’t she embarrassed? She must be crazy.

Finally, it was the woman’s turn to order. She squinted to try to read the menu that was on the wall above the barista’s head. But she couldn’t quite make out the words. Ella was getting frustrated. Why didn’t she already know what she wanted? This was a chain cafe. Same menu at every location and there is a location on just about every street corner.

The woman kept squinting and humming. She wasn’t upset, she wasn’t annoyed, she was in no rush. She was simply taking her time.

In an effort to move the line along, the barista finally asked, “ma’am, can I help you? Are you wanting coffee? A latte? Tea?”

The woman smiled back and said, “you know, my love… I’m not quite sure. What do you recommend? What do you all do the best?”

The antsy, but kind barista said, “my buddy makes the best cappuccino you’ve ever had.”

She smiled a smile even bigger and said, “well, I’ve never had a cappuccino so I know it will in fact be the best I’ve ever had. I’ll take one cappuccino please.”

“Almond, oat, or cow’s milk” the barista replied.

“There are other types of milk? And here I thought milk came only from a cow. Maybe a goat if you’re on a farm. But from nuts and oats? Well I’ll be…” she said as she laughed in amazement.

She stood there smiling for another beat until the barista raised his eyebrows as if to say, soooo, what’ll it be, ma’am?

“Cow’s milk will be just fine. Thank you, sir.”

She gave the man her name for her order, paid in cash and walked slowly and gleefully to a table outside. Ella overheard the woman’s name. Kay. Miss Kay.

Ella order quickly and robotically. Then proceeded instantly to the side counter to wait for her flat white. Miss Kay’s name was called before hers. In fact, quite a few times. Everyone was looking around. Who’s coffee was this? Didn’t she know the protocol? You order, wait for you coffee, then sit down.

Miss Kay’s cappuccino sat on the counter. Ella’s flat white in her takeaway cup was next. She grabbed it and started walking, no rushing out the door. As she was about to hurry out, she saw Miss Kay sitting at a table outside, face turned up toward the sunshine with a gigantic yet gentle smile on her face. Ella turned around instantly and walked back to the counter to get Miss Kay’s cappuccino. She carried her takeaway cup in one hand and the mug and saucer in the other hand. A woman coming into the cafe held the door open for Ella.

She then proceeded to place the mug on Miss Kay’s table. Miss Kay was in her own beautiful world. You could tell she was so grateful for the sunshine and the comings of spring. She didn’t even have to say it… just by looking at her you knew exactly what she was thinking and feeling. You could almost feel her prayer of gratitude.

The clattering sound of the mug and saucer landing on the table startled her. Ella said, “sorry to bother you. Is this your order? They were calling your name at the counter and I noticed you weren’t able to hear it.”

“Well I’ll be. Honey, I have no earthly idea if this is my order. The man said the cappuccino was the best but I don’t even know what a cappuccino is. If they were calling my name, I guess this is what I ordered. Thank you for bringing it to me. I would’ve been sitting out here for days, waiting on it without a clue as to what time it was or day it was. I’m just smittened by these dogwoods in blooms. And my lord, child, did you see those azaleas around the corner on 54th street? They stopped me in my tracks. I was absolutely astonished by the beauty of this day. The blooms were making me blush for my entire walk this morning. In fact, that’s why I popped into this cafe today. I don’t drink coffee, but I needed to sit down for a minute because I was so overwhelmed with God’s creations this morning. Whew! Nearly buckled at the knees. Aren’t we blessed to be alive on this day to see all the colors of this mighty world?”

Ella starred at her like a deer in headlights. She couldn’t remember the last time she had paused to look at the world blooming. She didn’t know if she had ever heard someone talk like this at 7:45 on a Wednesday morning. But it struck her with intrigue and curiosity.

“I hope you enjoy your first cappuccino, Miss Kay. Have a beautiful day,” Ella said as she smiled and turned to walk to work. Miss Kay responded, “How could I not have a beautiful day when it looks like this? Thank you for bringing me my drink. Enjoy your walk, my love. I hope the blooms enliven your soul.”

Ella walked in a different way to work that day. Her pace way slower. She actually felt the sun’s rays bathing her with the first light of spring. She admired the dogwoods and azaleas just as Miss Kay had highlighted. She sipped her flat white slower than usual and really tasted it today. She even paused while waiting for the light to turn at the corner of 56th street and took a deep breath and turned her face toward the sun instead of checking her phone.

When she arrived at work, the opened the door with more grace and softness. And as she crossed the threshold, she whispered to herself “I think I just met the happiest person in the world.” It was as if she needed to. She had to. Something within her had shifted through that simple, yet profound exchange with Miss kay. It was as if she had witnessed the golden ticket to genuine happiness. All revealed through being in the presence of the woman with the smile.