LOVE HEALS

Sadly, I am so often reminded
we live in a world where we are
taught to see divisions.
This is what fear and hatred do
they divide
They build walls and construct barriers
which divide us from one another
and keep the systems in place;
systems which divide and conquer.

Love heals.
Love teaches us to see
the whole
Love unifies.
Love builds bridges which
enable us to meet,
talk,
discuss,
and understand.
Love enables us to transform the world
one person,
one relationship,
one community
at a time

HOSPITALITY

There is a peace which surpasses understanding
when we open our hearts to strangers.
We want to draw a line between us and them.
We would rather turn away or disconnect,
then build a bridge.
We are focused on walls which separate,
then bridges that connect.

Hospitality is about building bridges.
It is about living in a way which opens us up
which challenges us to act out of love.
It is about taking the risk
and finding joy in the unknown.
It is about finding positive energy
where we sought not to look.

Hospitality
is about love,
light,
positive energy,
joy,
courage, and
love.
Hospitality is
intentional
and radical.
It is about seeing
the Divine
in the stranger
and the strange.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF KINDNESS PROJECT

The other day, I was sent a story about an interaction between a homeless man and a manager at a Chik-fil-a. The homeless man had come in asking for remnants and anything they might be throwing away. Instead the manager offered to pray with him and then gave him a full meal. It is in these acts of radical hospitality that we practice unity. Whether this story is true or not is not important. What is important is the lesson it teaches about how to practice unity. When we honor the dignity in others and treat them with respect, then we work together in unity to promote love and kindness in the world

The world is full of people like this. The other day as I was in my mart cart waiting to check out at the grocery store, a young boy offered to help take all the groceries out of my cart. While I did not need the help, I could see that this was something he wanted to do and so I graciously accepted. What I learned was this this was a practice his parents were teaching him. Each day he is to do something kind for someone. When he does he gets a kindness sticker on his calendar. When he has a full calendar, his parents do something for him. His mom told me that one month, his act of kindness was to tell his parents they did not need to reward him for being kind. They did anyway.  He has learned to work in unity with others to help achieve little goals.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What if we thought about being inhospitable as a cut in pay? How hospitable would we work on being?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What is in your heart and soul?

WELCOMING MYSELF

So all this month I have been reflecting on hospitality, reading about it, writing, about it, starting conversations about it, and practicing it to the best of my ability. Others have told me I am very hospitable and that they feel the welcome and the love the minute they walk in our door. I am so grateful they feel that way. Zoe and I are so intentional about trying to create that space. We both know what it is like to not feel welcomed, to not be wanted, to be excluded, and to be told there is no room at the inn. As a result, we have been intentional about doing all we can to create an environment of love and welcoming.

Yet for whatever reason when I have sat down to journal about hospitality as it applies to my own life, what I remembered were those moments when people did something to make me feel welcomed and those times when I was not. 

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May we be intentional about reaching out and connecting with others, not just those who are like us

Song of the Week

Sometimes we need to remember to open our hearts, minds, and souls to a deeper connection with our Higher Power, however we define that. https://youtu.be/5nvod5D2se4

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When friends come to eat, are they part of the preparation, or just part of the feast? This gives a new meaning to hospitality

IS THE UNIVERSE A FRIENDLY PLACE OR NOT?

The universe has a sense of humor. Recently I had read that Albert Einstein, when asked to identify the most important question in life, said, "Is the universe a friendly place or not?" Shortly, after reading the question on which I was going to reflect, my computer began dinging, the equivalent of you’ve got mail. It is the beginning of the semester where I teach part time and as with every semester, students are stressed because something has not come in yet. This normally means that either their financial aid has not come in or the books they ordered online have not come in yet.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Have you found the center of your life in your own heart?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We each contribute to the experience and practice of hospitality.

Guest or Host?

Are you a better guest or host? Which would you rather be?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Where we feel most at ease is where we are the most hospitable.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A smile can brighten up any one's day

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

sometimes it is the little things which make people feel welcome.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Practicing hospitality means we welcome all - those who are healed and those in need of healing.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Sometimes it is the simplest of words and expressions that draw us in and make us know we are welcomed. Maybe that is why this song by Phil Collins is this week's song of the week https://youtu.be/g18PTnlvP0M

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Hospitality has nothing to do with how much material wealth you own, but how much love and kindness you shower on others

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It is not just about inviting people over, it is about being able to be present so you can enjoy being with them and they can enjoy being with you.