Finding Freedom in the Hospitality of Presence by Sarah Wontorcik
heart & soul
Finding Freedom in the Hospitality of Presence by Sarah Wontorcik
When I started hosting a small group Bible study in my home, I would spend an hour making my house look perfect. I made sure the dishes were clean and put away, I swept the floors, I fluffed and straightened my couch cushions— if my home was going to reflect something about me, I wanted to make a glowing impression. I saw no reason anyone should know what my kitchen looked like mere hours before their arrival. After all, no one wants to see crumbs on the floor, dishes piled in the sink, or a glass on the table left over from the night before.
Then again, what if they do?
My pre-small-group cleanup routine waned pretty quickly. After a couple of months, I got busy. I was tired after work and didn’ t want to spend an hour making my home perfect. As long as the dirty dishes weren’ t in anyone’ s way, they remained where they sat in the sink. After a few weeks, I noticed how much freedom I felt in allowing people into my home as I knew it, instead of how I hoped they would know it. I realized that, if my home does reflect something about me, I’ d rather it be something true than perfect.
Of course, there’ s plenty of good in cleaning up a bit for company, but this accidental experiment got me thinking: What’ s more important to whom I’ m hosting, my presence or my appearance? Taken one step further, I wonder which is more important to God?
When Martha invited Jesus into the home she shared with her sister, Mary, she“ was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made,” while Mary“ sat at the Lord’ s feet listening to what he said”( Luke 10:39- 40, NIV). In this classic clash of“ doing” versus“ being,” Jesus declared that“ Mary has chosen what is better”( Luke 10:42, NIV). He didn’ t condemn Martha for valuing traditional hospitality customs; He gently corrected her priorities. Martha’ s choice to prepare her home, and likely a meal, for her honored guest was a good one, but Mary’ s choice to be present with Jesus was better.
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