I love hospitality. The process of welcoming in and providing for others – both stranger and friend – nourishes my soul and reminds me of the way I have been welcomed in and provided for. What God has done for me, I now get to do for others.
When my family and I formed our first missional community, we were pretty sure our mission would involve feeding people. We also believed it would probably center around our neighborhood. Where we lived wasn’t random or accidental. We believed God had been purposeful in placing us in that house, on that corner, in that neighborhood, in that suburb of Seattle. And, if that was true, then God was just as purposeful with those who lived in our neighborhood. We believed He was already at work in the lives of our neighbors and just maybe He would draw them to Himself through us. We didn’t know exactly what that might look like, but that’s where we started.
So we gathered some people and learned together about what it meant to live life-on-life, life-in-community, and life-on-mission. We prayed. And, waited expectantly for God to show us what was next. And, then it happened. On a snowy trip to Portland the week between Christmas and New Year’s, we stopped at one last restaurant trying to squeeze all the must-eats into our short trip. It was a little hole in the wall (literally) called The Waffle Window which operated out of the back of another restaurant called Bread and Ink (oh Portland!). Waffles and coffee were the only menu items … but, oh what waffles they were! Liege-style waffles made from decadent brioche dough studded with pearl sugar and baked one at a time on heavy cast iron waffle irons. And, the toppings! Bacon, Brie & Basil with Peach preserves, Banana Nutella, Lemon pannacotta with blueberry compote. Our mission was born in those first bites; Weekly Waffles.
Door-to-door
We invited our neighbors into our home every Saturday morning for Liege-style waffles, good coffee, and conversation. Together our MC went door-to-door in our neighborhood inviting them to breakfast. “No, we aren’t selling anything. No, we’re not going to try to convert you. (Well, that one was always tricky. ; ) ) . Yes, you can bring your kids, your grandma, your dog. No, it doesn’t cost anything. Yes, we know it sounds weird, but I promise, we’re not scary. Just come once and see what you think.” We invited folks from our kids’ schools, the family who answered our “free gravel” ad on Craig’s List, folks who came to our garage sale. If you were breathing, and in the vicinity, you got invited.
And, so our rhythm was established. Our MC met during the week for a family meal, Bible study, teaching and training, and prayer. Then on Saturdays a few from our MC (sometimes all), would come to help us with waffles; feasting around the table, opening their lives, and loving on our neighbors. We did it together. Eventually, other members of our MC were inviting our neighbors to their parties and school functions and the neighbors started inviting us to their house for dinner, celebrations, and different opportunities to serve the community. It became bigger than just what was happening during a few hours in our home on Saturday mornings. People found community and connection, a listening ear in times of need, and care in times of pain. Things were borrowed, shared, learned, lost. Babies were born, kid’s graduated, families moved away, and new families joined us.
All-of-self Hospitality
In this season, I serve my church family as an MC coach and I often find myself encouraging people to open their home by saying, “It’s so easy!” But, in reality, hospitality is not so easy. It is a big commitment involving all-of-self – your doing and your being. Sacrifice and dying-to-self is a daily, sometimes hourly battle, but it does become “easier” when you live into who and what God has called you to be and do. Romans 12:13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality.” And 1 Peter 4:8–9 says, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” I like how John Piper sums it up:
“When we practice hospitality, here’s what happens: we experience the refreshing joy of becoming conduits of God’s hospitality rather than being self-decaying cul-de-sacs. The joy of receiving God’s hospitality decays and dies if it doesn’t flourish in our own hospitality to others.
Or here is another way to put it: when we practice hospitality, we experience the thrill of feeling God’s power conquer our fears and our stinginess and our self-centeredness. And there are few joys, if any, greater than the joy of experiencing the liberating power of God’s hospitality making us a new and radically different kind of people, who love to reflect the glory of his grace as we extend it to others in all kinds of hospitality.”
As I enter in and entwine my life with others through the practice of hospitality I get to experience both the sweet and hard of following Jesus. I get a taste of the Kingdom and get to show what it’s like to others who don’t yet know.
(First published in 2018 at Saturate.)