Shannon S. McKee is communicator at heart. She is a writer, editor, and speaker. She writes at www.shannonsmckee.com. She coordinates the Women's Ministry at Redemption Chapel in Stow, Ohio, where she is a regular teacher and mentor. She is passionate about helping women thrive from the inside out. Her other titles include: Grace-dweller. Lover of Rick. Momma to 2. Tea Drinker. Entrepreneur. Putterer. Consumer of Dark Chocolate.
Let’s talk first about our culture (because that’s a little safer than talking about us, isn’t it?!?)
We live in an American culture that values independence.
Let’s face it, our culture doesn’t encourage us to be vulnerable and dependent on each other. The very foundations of our society encourage us to our personal rights and happiness as a primary pursuit. Even our most intimate of relationships are hampered by things like pre-nups and ways out and the like. We keep each other at arms length and we, frankly, sort of like it that way. It has been said of us that we build the largest houses in the world, but nobody is home. And, when we are, we’re in our perfectly equipped home theaters or our private backyards. Which, could be kind of cool for sharing with friends but I would posit that most of those spaces sit alone. Rare is the person who builds those spaces and actually uses them to extend invitation.
Author Ken Gire states it this way: “We have big things – we know big things. But we don’t look into each other’s eyes. We’re starved for a life that not only senses the sacred in the world around us but savors it. We’re famished for experiences that are real and relationships that are deep.”
I think he’s right – we sense the soul sickness and the relational disconnect. But, we’re hesitant or ill-equipped to change it. So, we stick with the status quo.
Which brings me to my second observation about our culture: Restaurant Living.
When we do find ourselves reaching out to fill that void, we’re much more likely to meet a friend out. At a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, or movie theater. The rise of eat-out opportunities have replaced much of what used to take place in each other’s homes. I’m not against restaurants – it’s a nice break to eat a great meal out. But it simply is not the same as being in someone’s home. The lingering and the life sharing don’t take place in a restaurant like they do at home. As well, when you’re in someone’s home you get a feel for who they are and how they live. It’s a glimpse that you can’t get at a restaurant.
And where does that leave us? It leaves in a disjointed world where our true selves can be completely hidden away while we go about our life work. This segmented living leaves us empty and grasping for a more wholistic, seamless approach to life. What does hosplitality have to do with any of that? I believe it's because the balance we seek is often found in lifegiving community. It turns out that the successful, high impact people whom we work so hard to impress are just... people. People who want to be known and welcomed into authentic conversation. They don't want to be entertained. They want to be reminded that they matter and that they have intrinsic worth. That their stories are worth listening to. In a word, most of them want to be welcomed in.
What about you? When was the last time you took the risk to reach out in a spirit of welcome? Can you think of ways that community and a "spirit of welcome" have impacted you? What is it about our culture that keeps you from practicing hospitality?
RHG Magazine & TV Guide TM - Fall into Balance 2019 © All rights reserved.