A Lesson on Hospitality

A Lesson on Hospitality
“Momma we went on a venture.” -Knox Foster

 Last week I told my boys that after their nap, we would go on an adventure together. Some time ago, I had dropped a rifle off at a local gunsmith for a repair, and I needed to go pick the gun up. So I took my boys with me. Now, the truth be told, there wasn’t much to this adventure. I loaded the boys up in the car, we drove to Stapleton, picked the gun up, and came home. But the “venture” made their day.
 
In a similar vein, last Saturday, we had some friends over. Their son played with our boys, we had a lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and they went home. The next day, these friends of ours thanked us profusely for our hospitality.
 
In some ways, their profuse thanks struck me as odd. Like the adventure the boys went on with me, we didn’t do anything special. We just ate a regular lunch and played in our backyard. But it strikes me that perhaps that’s what hospitality really consists of. Perhaps the hospitality people truly long for is not fancy place settings and an elaborate meal. Perhaps, instead, the hospitality people truly long for is just to be included in what you’re already doing. Perhaps the hospitality people long for is to go on the adventure of your life with you.
 
The Bible is always encouraging us to “show hospitality” – as Hebrews 13:2 puts it. Maybe we ought to stop making that commandment harder than it is. Invite someone to go on a “venture” with you this week. Invite somebody into the adventure of your life. It doesn’t have to be fancy or elaborate. Showing hospitality begins by simply including someone else in what you’re already doing.
 
Your Pastor and Friend,

John Knox Foster