Unprepared (for) Hospitality

Years ago, I read a wonderful little book by Chuck Swindoll titled, Improving Your Serve. The premise of the book is simply that we can get better at serving. Each chapter reintroduces the reader to the gentle art of living unselfishly, reminding us how impactful true servanthood can be. My favorite takeaway is that we can all become better at serving others. 

I believe spring provides new opportunities for us to step out of our Northeast Ohio hibernation and get outside to enjoy God’s creation. It also provides a special opportunity for us to invite our neighbors into our lives. As we talk about “spiritual spring cleaning,” it is helpful  to consider how this is connected with practicing hospitality. A few months ago, we had a family member let us know at the last minute that they might be able to spend the night with us while they were in the area. The problem was, the room we usually set aside for visitors was almost impossible to get to, because of Christmas boxes and other things that needed to be cleaned up. We were not able to extend the kind of hospitality I would have preferred, because of a mess I had not addressed.

I have a particularly hospitable friend who keeps meals in the freezer ready to go, in case an unexpected guest shows up. She also keeps frozen cookie dough ready to go, in case a last-minute dessert is needed. These are great examples of what it means to be prepared for hospitality. Maybe another way to look at it is, “What about my home keeps me from inviting others into it?” While I wholeheartedly believe real hospitality requires us to invite others into our mess, I also believe we can allow our messes to keep us from extending the kind of hospitality that glorifies God.

So, the spring cleaning question this week might involve a little actual cleaning. And the question is, “What is keeping me from inviting others into my life, and can I do anything tangible to address those things today?”

Expectantly, 

Shawn