Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes Release Today

Fall is coming.

That means Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks.

Don't you just love that hot, creamy, pumpkiny goodness from Starbucks?

Yes, yes you do!

It's delightful this time of year. The PSL has risen to the top of the Fall Drink Food Chain. (If that is even a thing, which I'm pretty sure it is. Second place is hot carmel apple cider.)

Starbucks is releasing the coffee drinking today. So you can go and drink up that goodness.

Of course, I've already had mine...two days ago.

My wife has an unwritten rule in our marriage. If we pass a Starbucks, we stop and get something to drink. This is driven by the unfortunate reality that our town doesn't have a Starbucks.

On Sunday we were going through the drive-thru. We had just eaten supper and I was stuffed from crunching tacos, so nothing sounded good. I ordered her drink and drove to the window. That's when she informed me that I could have a PSL before anyone else.

That's right.

I could be one of the first.

When she pulled up her Starbucks app to pay, she noticed she had received a code for a special "Fan Pass." She entered it and then a fancy schmancy ticket appeared on her screen to show our barista "for early access." (Of course, I realize a million other people probably did the same thing.)

The pure fact that I could have a PSL before the majority of the PSL loving community did something inside of me. Although, I was too stuffed a mere 20 seconds before, now I couldn't live without one.

So I broke my unwritten rule of adding on to my order at the drive-thru window. Those people who add on to orders at the window get on my nerves, but I couldn't resist.

I took a sip. I'm pretty sure that one swallow sent Earth into its Autumnal equinox and moved its axis 23.5°.

Do you know what made it taste even better?

Knowing that you couldn't order one yet.

That is something ugly inside of me.

Now, I realize it is small and in this event not a huge deal.

But it revealed something in my heart.

That same ugliness is probably living inside of you.

It shows up a lot more than I realize.

It's when I delight in being the first to know something, have something, or experience something.

That ugly thing has a brother that shows up quite often too. And he is just as ugly. He shows up anytime I am not the first to know something, have something, or experience something. He shows up and I start comparing myself to others.

The two uglies are pride and jealousy.

Paul wrote to the Galatians, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other" (Galatians 5:25-26).

So what do you do to overcome becoming conceited or trying to provoke others?

Stop and think before you speak.

On most occasions, we realize when we are provoking someone to envy. There is a feeling that comes with it. So the next time, just don't tell what you have to tell. God has been working on me in this area and often times before I speak I look for the motive behind what I'm saying.

Why is that important?

Paul a few verses later says, "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load."

Jesus taught us that when we humble ourselves we will be exalted and when we exalt ourselves we will be humbled. So if you feel conceit bubbling up inside, stop and have a conversation with yourself.

Did you get your PSL today? Or are you going to?