HOSPITALITY

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Today is the Lord’s Day. In a few minutes we will be leaving for the worship assembly. The church is looking for a new preacher and one will be visiting today, so that is exciting. It is always exciting to go to worship with those of like mind. It’s not always good to look beyond the next thing—but that’s what I’m doing. I’m thinking about another gathering of Christian friends—and that’s tonight.

Tonight we will be meeting with friends from the church where I served as pastor for fifteen years. We will meet in the home of a former elder and his wife. These two have always practiced hospitality. Henri Nouwen wrote, “Hospitality is the creation of a free and friendly space where we can reach out to strangers and invite them to become our friends” That’s good—isn’t it? We were all strangers once. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.

Darryl Tippens wrote, “…we imitate our Savior by opening our homes, our lives, our checkbooks, and our hearts to others. There is no more essential spiritual practice than hospitality.”