The word for this week, and indeed as you know from my last
blog, my word for the year is “hospitality.”
I am reminded of the verse from Hebrews 13:2 “Do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” I certainly know that those who extend
hospitality often function as angels in our lives. That unexpected offer of kindness, the
stranger who goes out of their way to do something helpful, the connections
that get made over a shared experience are such a gift.
I am currently benefiting from a fabulous gift of
hospitality in Minneapolis. A couple of
years ago friends introduced us to an organization called “The Affordable
Travel Club” where people offer to host others, with accommodation and
breakfast in their home. There are
members all across the world. Paul and I
joined in September and hosted our first guests in the fall; two really nice
folks from Regina who were on a cross country trip. We happily welcomed them to
our home, shared wine and conversation, gave them a place to sleep and
breakfast each day. It was lovely. In
conversation we found out that a few nights earlier they had stayed in
Fredericton with the friends of ours who had introduced us to the club.
When I was making plans to come to Minneapolis and looking
at the very high cost of staying in a hotel, I contacted folks in the club who
lived not far from the conference site to see if I could stay. They graciously said yes, to having a guest
for 4 nights. I arrived yesterday
afternoon and was so warmly welcomed.
Although there is no expectation of any meals except breakfast, my hosts
insisted on sharing a simple supper of soup and salad, followed by a delicious
cheesecake. I have been made most
welcome.
In an age of fear and suspicion, it is nice to know that
there are people who still function on assumptions of kindness and hospitality
– for whom a stranger is just a friend you haven’t yet met. Sure it is a little scary to both welcome
strangers into your home, or to be welcomed – but within minutes, the gift of
hospitality can break down barriers and new relationships can be established.
I remember many years ago, before cell phones were even
invented, Paul and I were on our way back from Winnipeg and the car broke down
late at night outside of Thunder Bay. We
were walking up to a house, in the dark of night to see if we could use a phone
to call a cab to take us to a hotel for
the night with plans to deal with the car in the morning. Before we got to the
door, it opened - these folks had heard the loud sound the car made when it
broke down. We explained our predicament
and they insisted that we stay with them the night and they would help us get
the car to the dealership in the morning.
Grateful for their offer we did stay the night. In the morning they refused money and helped
us on our way. It is a gift of
hospitality I still remember with gratitude more than 30 years later.
Back to the present, as I was getting to know my hosts
yesterday I discovered that the nice folks from Regina who stayed with us last
fall, had also stayed with them earlier on their trip. It was another interesting connection.
My hosts looked up a few things that I might be interested
in doing when I was in downtown St Paul and one of them was a free concert at
the Landmark Center next to the Conference site.
I have just come from the most marvelous free
concert – another lovely gift of hospitality and now I am enjoying the
hospitality of the library as I wait to register for the conference.
Basic human hospitality helps make us and the world a much
better place. I am looking forward to
seeing the many wonderous ways I can both extend and receive hospitality this
year.
