hospitality

everybody needs somebody...

it's just built into our dna...

we need the presence,

friendship,

companionship 

love 

of other human beings.  

we were created to 

love

and to be loved.

we were designed to be in relationship 
as we believe 
GOD is in relationship...

and the best of relationships 

are rooted in 

respect,

care,

honesty,

and

commitment.

everyone alive desires to be 

understood,

welcomed, 

encouraged,

accepted...

everyone!

so my friend 

recognized in my voice and in my texting 

that it was time for me to meet some new friends.

so from 1000's of miles away he introduced me 

to his friends who happened to live near me.

one night i was invited 

to join the group.

though the gathering started later 

than i was used to staying up

i agreed to go.

on the way

i got lost

and after i was lost for about 20 minutes 

i got 

"more" 

lost.  
(when you are this lost...proper grammar is the last thing on your mind!)

i hate being late.

i hate being lost.

so i called and told one in the group 

that i wasn't going to be able to make it.

"i'm lost...

and i'm just not in a good place,"

i told him.

then he said,

"blake, i got the group together tonight 

just to meet you.

calm down, 

tell me where you are

i can get you where you need to be."

and he did.

i didn't know anyone who had gathered.

here i was 

20 years older

and to top it off 

a presbyterian minister from the suburb.

why would any of these guys 

give one hoot about me.

and yet they offered me hospitality.

simple

decent

low key hospitality.

by the end of the evening 

each one in the group had taken me aside...

basically they told me the same thing:

"look, we know you have a story

we all do.  
it's ok.  
we want to hear your story

and we will hear it in due time

but  tonight

we're just are glad you are here....

tonight just be here with us."

this odd group of guys 

with stories as diverse as they come

showed me what we in the church should be all about. 

this odd group of guys

who, for the most part,

had been hurt and shunned by the church

reached out to me

even though they knew 

i was a minister

even though i remained

a part of the institution

that had treated them so harshly

even though....

they offered me 

the hospitality 

the church refused to offer them.

one at a time

they welcomed me

shared stories with me

and said,

it's all going to be ok. 

isn't this what the church should be all about?
shouldn't we be more 
about hospitality
hospitality that offers an unconditional welcome
and a promise to listen
and care. 

hmmmmmmm.

i will remain thankful 

for the rest of my life 

to those guys who gathered one 

wednesday evening 

on my behalf. 

they've changed the way 
i welcome folks into the church.