House & Home: What Hospitality Looks Like

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.

“When we are in deep trouble we long to see some rescuer appear…Suddenly, decisively, kindness appears. And it is not the kindness of soft words or a gentle smile but a strong act of intervention, a mighty deliverance.”

Mel Lawrenz

I have a friend who takes in strays. I’m talking people here, not the furry canine variety. Ever since we first became acquainted over forty years ago, this female pal of mine has offered her house and home to any number of folks in need. I used to believe that I had the gift of hospitality because I truly enjoy planning a wonderful meal, getting the house ready for guests, and mentally preparing a special visit for whomever comes over.

Then one afternoon, I thoughtfully started to contrast how my friend literally opens up her house, giving rooms up in her home to others for not hours, but weeks and when need be, months at a stretch. I open up my home for a few hours, my friend opens her home for indefinite time periods. That, my friend, is true hospitality. And for some, my friend’s act(s) of generosity are indeed acts of intervention and a mighty deliverance.

Invite Others To Enter In

It’s enough of a wow factor to be willing to set aside your privacy and personal preferences for visiting family members. It is quite another to offer the same sacrificial love and courtesies to those outside your circle of family or even of friends. To feel that inner nudge to say yes to helping someone (or a family of someone’s) get back on their feet (emotionally, mentally, spiritually, financially) is a serious business (and calling.)

Over the years, I’ve observed my friend clean up, cook, launder, and make room for individuals who weren’t always grateful or appreciative of her kindness. A few times, these needy souls simply ran out of choices and had no other options or plans. But God had a plan. A marvelous plan that included far more than a place to lay their head down at night and three square meals a day.

Hospitality Is Like A Hospital

God has used my friend as one of his instruments to redeem people’s very lives. He has used her acts of hospitality as the vehicle to bring renewed healing, trust, forgiveness, and hope into countless people’s hearts and minds. I’ve seen it happen in the most unlikely situations and people.

In fact, my friend’s ongoing ministry to people who need somewhere to shelter themselves during life’s toughest patches has been the catalyst for me to take more faith-based risks. When I get nervous or apprehensive about jumping into the fray to offer what I can to ease some pain or to meet a real felt need…I remind myself of my friend’s courageous choices. Her obedience spurs obedience in me. My hope is that my small acts of obedience will then spark a good work in someone else. And so the cycle continues.

Be Comfortable With The Uncomfortable

While conducting frequent radio interviews after the release of one of my books a few years’ back, a conversational theme quickly developed between myself and the radio hosts. Since my book dealt with finding value in the hardest events in life, on-air hosts consistently asked me for a few closing remarks to give listeners a positive takeaway.

I always closed with these three directives: Determine to stay tender in a tough world and recognize that it takes far more courage to be sensitive to the plight of others than it does to grow calloused and hardened. Next, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. There are precious few scenarios in this life that we can honestly say make us feel comfortable, so comfort is not a worthy goal in itself. When comfort comes, be grateful for it, but don’t go looking for it. Lastly, take the next appropriate step even if you feel afraid. Don’t let fear hinder you from moving into a new frontier (or out of a familiar one.)

These three action steps (mindsets) are crucial for today’s believer to internalize because we live in a dangerous, uncomfortable, painful world. God forbid that we ever grow weary of doing good when we hold the power to offer help when it comes knocking on our doors. Hospitality is a lot like a hospital…we offer all kinds of healing and hope to all kinds of folks and our doors should always be open.