I haven’t added anything to the blog for the past few weeks because I am involved in an ancient tradition of the Church called hospitality. Hospitality has been fundamental to the Father’s embrace and the Christian life of faith in Jesus since the beginning of the Church.
I am currently reading a book on this subject, Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition, by Christine C. Pohl. Through it, I’m discovering the importance of extending hospitality to all human life, and how a person’s life of faith will either flourish or shrivel in relation to our expression of hospitality.
Pohl writes:
“When a person who is not valued by society is received by a socially respected person or group as a human being with dignity and worth, small transformations occur. The person’s self-assessment, so often tied to societal assessment, is enhanced. Because such actions are counter cultural, they are a witness to the larger community, which is then challenged to reassess its standards and methods of valuing. Many persons who are not valued by the larger community are essentially invisible to it. When people are socially invisible, their needs and concerns are not acknowledged and no one even notices the injustices they suffer. Hospitality can begin a journey toward visibility and respect.”*
Christians have always been on the forefront of inclusion and welcome to the least of society’s members. Until I read this book I didn’t consider a prayer vigil to end abortion a practice of hospitality. Certainly, our welcome must include the pre-born. It is such a Christian thing to do.
I’ve been too busy to add to my blog because I am currently extending hospitality through the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil. This vigil will last through the month of October.
Should you desire to become involved in your local Prayer Vigil, log onto the 40 Days website: http://www.40daysforlife.com/about.cfm
*Making Room, by Christine D. Pohl, chapter 4, page 62.
Ancient Boundary
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*“Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set.”* Proverbs
22:28
God‘s word is a fence. It’s a boundary. God designed it that way to set th...
3 years ago
4 comments:
I really appreciated Pohl's book. In the course of living between two churches, I want to live as a Christian and to engage in the practices of Christian life. Thanks for the reminder!
Nancy, Your comments, and Pohl's book remind me of Rog and my love and concern for a reclusive cousin, who many consider strange. He doesn't often bathe, his home only has a trail through the clutter, and his appearance often leaves much to be desired. But, becuase we invite him into our home and hearts, this eccentric, reclusive man has opened up and begins to see value in himself for the first time in a long time. It's often not pleasant to be near him, his language is sometimes coarse, but over time, through prayer, and assuring him he's God's child and that God loves him and has a plan and purpose for him, this dear man has begun to change. He still fears death, though he now professes Christ. He is 70 years old and will soon meet his Maker. Your comments are an encouragement to continue as we have done, in spite of family resistence to do otherwise. God bless you, sweet sister in Christ, Gail
Nancy, you inspire me each time I talk with you, listen to you coment on a Bible verse or read one of your posts. Truly you are a blessing to me. Thank you, dear one.
The 40 Days for Life is a real commitment. It gets colder and wetter each day. Thank you for your witness.
Susan
It is I who must thank each person who offers hospitality, as each of you do. Thank you for your consistent Christian lives of faith and love.
Thank you too for your kind encouragements. Praise is not for me: All Glory to Jesus!
Nancy
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