Sunday, December 10, 2017

Hospitality


This is an excellent time of year to consider hospitality.  In fact, I was inspired to write this post because of  this quote by Henri Nouwen which I read in Jon Zens' book, Jesus is Family His Life Together:
Hospitality is "primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy.  Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place...we can offer a space where people are encouraged to disarm themselves, to lay aside their occupations and preoccupations...Just as we cannot force a plant to grow, but can take the weeds and  stones which prevent its development, so we cannot force anyone to such a personal and intimate change of heart, but we can offer the space where such a change can take place."
I just love love the idea of creating a space where people can "disarm" and "lay aside their occupations and preoccupations".  The Incarnation of Christ is the most wonderful miracle.  God the Son was changed into a man so that we sinners can be changed into the image of The Son, and we can in turn provide a haven where others might be changed as we are being changed ourselves.

Some people excel at inviting family, friends, and strangers into their homes to share the good things that they have been blessed with, and some of us really have to work at it.  Corey and I laugh as we recall a few awkward, clunky attempts at hospitality towards people that we did not really know.  If you are a Christian you are not "off the hook" because your house is small or you don't know how to cook.  The pursuit of hospitality is like anything worth striving for, it gets better with more and more practice.

In fact, hospitality is essential to the growth of God's people.  To be changed, to become more and more like Christ, isn't that what we Christians truly want for ourselves and others?  The Holy Spirit can use our meager endeavors at clearing weeds and stones to change people - family, friends, and even strangers.

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