What if true, sincere hospitality values presence above all else?
When I go to my friends’ houses, I smile when dog hair sticks to my socks and kids’ toys occupy every available seat. I don’ t want to share a polished version of life with them; I want to share in a life that is real and honest.
So my house is a little messy when my friends come over, but I think it’ s better that way. They don’ t judge me when every fork I own is in the dishwasher, waiting to be cleaned, forcing us to eat cake with spoons— we laugh about it. It doesn’ t matter to them if my blankets aren’ t neatly folded— in fact, they help themselves more often if they’ re not. If I’ m less talkative after a long day, my friends still enjoy being with me. They don’ t want an appearance; they want my presence— exactly as I am in that moment.
I’ m convinced that Paul’ s words to the Thessalonian church capture the essence of hospitality in the kingdom of God:“ Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well”( 1 Thessalonians 2:8, NIV).
When I was striving to make my house look perfect for my small group, I was launching a Bible study— a good and worthy pursuit, just like Martha’ s! But when I allowed people to see some of my mess— when I invited them into the realities of my everyday life— I started cultivating a community.
In 2023, the U. S. Surgeon General released an advisory titled,“ Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” In his
introduction letter to the public, he shared two staggering statistics. First, about one in every two adults in America report experiencing loneliness. Second, the long-term effects of loneliness are similar to those caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Loneliness and isolation are a public health crisis.
In a world desperate for authentic connection, how might you cultivate a hospitable heart? A heart that values presence over appearance, that is willing to share in real, messy lives. As the pace of life slows this summer, be on the lookout for opportunities to invite others into your home. Whether it’ s a Fourth of July barbecue or an at-home coffee date with a friend, inviting people inside might mean more than you think. CRA
Sarah Wontorcik is a writer and editor for Cru. org, with seven years of ministry and communications experience with Cru ®. She specializes in feature writing and holds a bachelor’ s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. Originally from Michigan, Sarah now calls Orlando home.
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