Faces on Faith: The power of hospitality
Since arriving back in Ohio in early May, my wife and I have attempted to regain that “at home feeling.” For the past two years we have lived for six months on Captiva Island, serving all who connect with Chapel by the Sea. What a blessing it has been to develop new friends who welcomed us with open arms, in essence saying “make yourself at home.” Now we are home, catching up with our children, grandchildren and church family.
Recently, our son purchased a beautiful basket of flowers for my wife for Mother’s Day. As the weather warmed we decided to place the basket on our back deck. Soon we noticed birds flying around which led to a nest being built inside the flowers arrangement. It is amazing how perfectly these birds fashioned their nest. Then as expected, three blue eggs appeared in the nest. I must admit that at first I was tempted to get rid of the nest. I was concerned about the mess the birds would make. I wanted to enjoy my deck. But I decided to leave well enough alone and communicate to the birds, “Make yourself at home!”
This incident reminded me of how important hospitality really is. I have a friend who has served as the director of a home for men and women who are trying to get back on their feet. For many years, my friend and his staff opened their doors to say, “make yourself at home.” Their service to the least, the lost and the lonely demonstrates God’s unconditional love while providing direction and guidance. In his book, “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations,” Bishop Robert Schnase lists radical hospitality as the number one practice. According to Schnase, what makes hospitality radical is when people have an active desire to invite, welcome, receive and care for those who are strangers, so that they find a spiritual home, and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ.
So dear friends, whether it is our personal home, or a home away from home, our higher calling is to express and experience the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Most of us know the great commandment recorded in Deuteronomy 6, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and all your strength.” But it is also important to remember what follows. The text goes on to encourage us to share this love with our children, talk about it as we go about our daily business, and post it as a sign on our front door. Just as we communicated to our new family of robins, the sign reads “Make yourself at home!”
The Rev. Larry L. Marshall is the pastor at the Captiva Chapel by the Sea.