As-You-Are Hospitality

By Tiffany Montavon
It's 8:15am, morning rush hour, and I'm lost. Already. I checked the website, wrote directions, and jumped in the car, gulping coffee as I went out the door. Nonetheless, I've gone too far, after turning around twice, so I will miss my 8am meeting with Rachel from theMake a Living, Have a Life groups.

I get to the church, and wend my way around back to the pond, garden and labyrinth that are tucked away from the busy street. No one is there; Rachel has tired of waiting, no doubt. The parking lot is filling with hopping, bopping children with hats pulled down over ears and backpacks bouncing as they make their way into the church school. This burst of activity is in stark contrast to the quiet repose of the Labyrinth space which invites contemplation and prayer at the other end of the parking lot; I suppose it is simply a different kind of prayer from the active growing learning prayer that is little ones.

I call Rachel to apologize and confess my lostness. She waits a millisecond, and says, "Well, do you want to come over?" I'm immediately struck by the intimacy she is inviting. Into her home, with no prior planning, to share some tea and finally connect face to face. I note that I spent the entire previous day getting my house "ready for company" – clean, presentable, putting on a good show. Rachel is inviting me into her life, as it is, right now.

We talk about this at her kitchen table. I wonder aloud about her open hearted as-you-are hospitality, in contrast to my "are the bathrooms sparkling" worrisome way. Rachel says, "Different than Biblical times, we don't wash each others' feet upon entering any longer – thank God! – so instead we clean the bathroom. But that's not really hospitality; hospitality is being with the other."

Call Questions:

  1. What is an early favorite memory of a conversation around the dinner table?
  2. How long does it take you to have your house ready for others?
  3. What helps you have your heart ready for others?
  4. Are there people who are always invited in, no matter what? What makes that possible?
  5. Recall a time when you were delighted by someone's success.

Call Encouragement:

  • What are your practices to connect with the wonder of the world?
  • Read our Journeying blog for encouragement.
  • This article first appeared in the Lumunos e-News. Sign-up today.

Further Consideration... on hospitality:

Tiffany Montavon lives in Arlington VA with her partner, Kris Herbst and dogs Bongo and Bali. She can be reached at Tiffany@Lumunos.org.