A Devotion for the Hosts
If you’re not familiar with it, Toastmasters, it is a nonprofit that focuses on improving public speaking, communication and leadership skills. There are clubs that meet all over the world in churches, schools, communities and businesses. Every meeting is focused around a set of speeches, given by a variety of club members on different topics. After the speeches are done, a group of evaluators gives constructive feedback to the speakers. It is a fascinating, incredibly empowering environment to be in. Sure, I think there is a small dose of healthy competition, but for the most part, my experience has been that everyone wants to see everyone else improve.
This week, I gave my first speech, the Icebreaker, where I was tasked with introducing myself to the group and telling a bit about my background and story in 4-6 minutes. I was nervous, but it went smoothly.
What I realized as I drove home from my meeting was that there was something about the group that had gathered that enabled me to tell my story and tell it well. There was an openness, an honesty, and a transparency among the club, something that I’ve experienced in the life of the church, but certainly not always.
I began to think: do I create an environment in my own life where people feel free to tell their stories? Am I conveying a spirit of openness and honesty so that people can move on toward becoming better, more whole, and their most authentic selves? (in Toastmasters, this is better communicators, but in the life of faith, I’d say it’s moving toward becoming more like Christ).
When we look at Scripture, we can see how Jesus modeled this for us. Everywhere he went, he made room for others. In the beginning of the Gospel of John, we read of Jesus’ hospitality (John 1: 35-42). When two disciples see Jesus walking along the street, they follow him.
Jesus turns around and sees them. “What do you want?” he asks.
It seems like a simple question, but it is really a profound one. Jesus doesn’t ask : “Why are you following me?” but rather a question that gets to the heart of who they are.
He is asking: "What are you looking for? What do you need? What are you lacking in your life?"
That is the hardest thing in the world to know. What these disciples want most is to see more of Jesus. “Where are you staying?” the disciples ask.
Rather than giving them directions, Jesus simply says, “Come and see.”
Jesus allows his day and his plans to be interrupted. In truth, I’d love to know what they talked about that day. What we do know is that the two disciples were welcomed by Jesus, they were invited in, allowed to ask questions and by the time the day was over, they were proclaiming: “We have found the Messiah!”
Jesus’ model of hospitality isn’t one of proper tea parties or particular etiquette. Rather, it is a way of being in the world that happens in our homes, at our tables, and in our work. It happens in our churches, in our neighborhoods, at the coffee shop and on the work site.
The hospitality that Jesus modeled provides a place of safety and trust where others can be at home, a place where it is safe to be yourself, to ask the hard questions and allow others to do the same. Jesus invited the stranger into his home and made them disciples. As followers of Jesus, we get the opportunity to welcome the stranger and make them friends.
How might we, as those who are working with people in long-term recovery, might welcome others into safe, honest spaces? Are we creating environments where people feel safe and trusted and allowed to share their stories, pain and all?
Jesus allows his day and his plans to be interrupted. In truth, I’d love to know what they talked about that day. What we do know is that the two disciples were welcomed by Jesus, they were invited in, allowed to ask questions and by the time the day was over, they were proclaiming: “We have found the Messiah!”
Jesus’ model of hospitality isn’t one of proper tea parties or particular etiquette. Rather, it is a way of being in the world that happens in our homes, at our tables, and in our work. It happens in our churches, in our neighborhoods, at the coffee shop and on the work site.
The hospitality that Jesus modeled provides a place of safety and trust where others can be at home, a place where it is safe to be yourself, to ask the hard questions and allow others to do the same. Jesus invited the stranger into his home and made them disciples. As followers of Jesus, we get the opportunity to welcome the stranger and make them friends.
How might we, as those who are working with people in long-term recovery, might welcome others into safe, honest spaces? Are we creating environments where people feel safe and trusted and allowed to share their stories, pain and all?
Are we inviting people to indeed “come and see” the goodness of God?
Opening our lives and allowing space for others is a tough task. But it is rooted in who we are called to be as people of faith, people who walk alongside one another, who welcome the stranger and seek out the Messiah. In all things, as John Wesley famously said: “The best of all is, God is with us!”
In Christ’s peace,
Amy
Opening our lives and allowing space for others is a tough task. But it is rooted in who we are called to be as people of faith, people who walk alongside one another, who welcome the stranger and seek out the Messiah. In all things, as John Wesley famously said: “The best of all is, God is with us!”
In Christ’s peace,
Amy
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