Since last blog I was thinking about Hospitality and the whole idea of it, I came across this thought from Matt Mahre on his blog site:
Noted author Henri Nouwen once said, "the greatest sign of a Christian was their sense of hospitality" Well, of course it would be extremely inhospitable to "force" an agenda on someone, without their willing permission. This is the "grave" sin that God speaks of - when one knowingly and willingly compromises the sanctity and dignity of another human person for personal gain (of any kind). The opposite of love isn't hate, as Pope John Paul 2 spoke in the Theology of the Body, it's use. To use someone for personal gain (whether it be emotional, psychological or physical) is a terrible sin against God
(From Matt Mahre's blog)
It was what I was trying to say...Someone else always seems to get it "righter" than me!
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Peace after the storm?
So it has been forever since I have sat down and thought,about something other than school work or playing on the Internet for my library website, or figuring out new web2.0 apps for my classes. I have met some wonderful people and have learned a BUNCH about Libraries and Librarian work. I am still feeling overwhelmed however!
I spent an amazing week in Guatemala and jumped in with both feet to classes after having had some time to gain some perspective.
Peaceful perspective. Go to a country where there is no electricity where you are staying and the people you are with are loving people with no advantages whatsoever except their family ties, and this makes for some quiet contemplation. I was very happy here. we worked literally from sun up to sundown on building stoves for the village of Nuevo Santiago Esperenza Maya.
The village is not much but it does have PEOPLE in it. They laugh and cry and are gregarious or shy happy sad, healthy and ill just like all of us. They welcomed us and showed us such gracious hospitality..Could we do the same for strangers from a far away country, who do not speak our language? Would we welcome them into our homes with open arms as they tried to improve our quality of life?.. God puts it on the hearts of people to go on short term 3rd world missions (I think) in hopes of showing them the ways he wants us to respond to his call to be a community of believers. When you go far away and see the community the people have with each other it is very humbling. We who have beeen blessed with much, need to be able to know we can share and need to share what we have: talents, time, money,whatever it is to better the world in God's name and for His glory.I think that, thinking about Life as your mission field would be a start.. So think about that.
Here is a related passage from The Message: Judges 19:15-21
15-17 The Levite went and sat down in the town square, but no one invited them in to spend the night. Then, late in the evening, an old man came in from his day's work in the fields. He was from the hill country of Ephraim and lived temporarily in Gibeah where all the local citizens were Benjaminites. When the old man looked up and saw the traveler in the town square, he said, "Where are you going? And where are you from?"
18-19 The Levite said, "We're just passing through. We're coming from Bethlehem on our way to a remote spot in the hills of Ephraim. I come from there. I've just made a trip to Bethlehem in Judah and I'm on my way back home, but no one has invited us in for the night. We wouldn't be any trouble: We have food and straw for the donkeys, and bread and wine for the woman, the young man, and me—we don't need anything."
20-21 The old man said, "It's going to be all right; I'll take care of you. You aren't going to spend the night in the town square." He took them home and fed the donkeys. They washed up and sat down to a good meal.
So strangers can provide for each other and we should all be hospitable to everyone we encounter. We should also learn how to accept graciously the hospitality that is shown to us in different situations. Just some thoughts on peaceful times spent as a stranger in another land.
I spent an amazing week in Guatemala and jumped in with both feet to classes after having had some time to gain some perspective.
Peaceful perspective. Go to a country where there is no electricity where you are staying and the people you are with are loving people with no advantages whatsoever except their family ties, and this makes for some quiet contemplation. I was very happy here. we worked literally from sun up to sundown on building stoves for the village of Nuevo Santiago Esperenza Maya.
The village is not much but it does have PEOPLE in it. They laugh and cry and are gregarious or shy happy sad, healthy and ill just like all of us. They welcomed us and showed us such gracious hospitality..Could we do the same for strangers from a far away country, who do not speak our language? Would we welcome them into our homes with open arms as they tried to improve our quality of life?.. God puts it on the hearts of people to go on short term 3rd world missions (I think) in hopes of showing them the ways he wants us to respond to his call to be a community of believers. When you go far away and see the community the people have with each other it is very humbling. We who have beeen blessed with much, need to be able to know we can share and need to share what we have: talents, time, money,whatever it is to better the world in God's name and for His glory.I think that, thinking about Life as your mission field would be a start.. So think about that.
Here is a related passage from The Message: Judges 19:15-21
15-17 The Levite went and sat down in the town square, but no one invited them in to spend the night. Then, late in the evening, an old man came in from his day's work in the fields. He was from the hill country of Ephraim and lived temporarily in Gibeah where all the local citizens were Benjaminites. When the old man looked up and saw the traveler in the town square, he said, "Where are you going? And where are you from?"
18-19 The Levite said, "We're just passing through. We're coming from Bethlehem on our way to a remote spot in the hills of Ephraim. I come from there. I've just made a trip to Bethlehem in Judah and I'm on my way back home, but no one has invited us in for the night. We wouldn't be any trouble: We have food and straw for the donkeys, and bread and wine for the woman, the young man, and me—we don't need anything."
20-21 The old man said, "It's going to be all right; I'll take care of you. You aren't going to spend the night in the town square." He took them home and fed the donkeys. They washed up and sat down to a good meal.
So strangers can provide for each other and we should all be hospitable to everyone we encounter. We should also learn how to accept graciously the hospitality that is shown to us in different situations. Just some thoughts on peaceful times spent as a stranger in another land.
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