HOSPITALITY

You know it when you have experienced genuine hospitality.  It is not about the place or the food you were served, but rather about who you were with and how the experience made you feel.  The person extending hospitality makes me feel welcomed, understood, cared for, heard.  I feel like I can put my feet up and settle in, knowing that I am in a safe place. 

If this is the measure of hospitality, then the pressure is off.  I do not have to worry about how clean my house is, or what is on the menu, or if my kids are behaving well or not.  I just have to create a space to see my guest and to accept and welcome them into relationship.

This week, before the summer is over, I am going to invite someone to join me on the deck, where we can sip a cooling drink and where our conversation and connection can become holy ground.