1. What have you been
learning about Radical Hospitality this summer that you didn't know before?
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| IVCF SFU Welcome BBQ!! |
I think a lesson that shocked me as we learned about
radical hospitality is how simple yet, how difficult it was to demonstrate
radical hospitality. In many ways it was simple because hospitality could
include inviting people to join you for lunch, offering to buy someone a
coffee, going to an event someone has asked you to join or opening your home to
people. Yet, this simplicity is complicated by so many excuses that stop us,
and I believe this is where difficulty arises because there are so many excuses
to why we should not be hospitable. One thing I have always wrestled with was
meeting new people. I always worried about giving off the right impression, not
wanting to associate with certain people or worried about awkwardness that it
stopped me from even trying to approach the person. However in our meetings
with Servant Partners they taught us about their openness to welcome strangers
into their home and to accept them lovingly, the joy it brings but also some of
the challenges. One thing that really stuck with me after our meetings with
Servant Partners was realizing how caught up I was about my self-image and my
own possessions that I valued it over a relationship with another person. It is
not easy to value the human connection amidst all the worries one can have,
however I believe that this is when we lean into trusting in God and love as
Jesus loved others.
2. How have you been
applying Radical Hospitality in the way you serve and also in your everyday
life?
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| Denman Island Leaders Retreat |
I think the way I have applied Radical Hospitality to my
life related to a prayer I asked before this summer semester. During fellowship
at my church I prayed with one of my friends that God would move me from a life
of convenience. It was one of the big excuses I was using when it came to why I
did not want to be hospitable. I live about 2 hours away from campus by transit
and so I only go up to campus for class and that was how my schedule worked.
However this semester as I have been serving on the executive team for
InterVarsity at SFU I have had to come up on days when I do not have classes, come
earlier or stay later than my class schedule requires me. It means late
transits home when I sometimes do not even get home till midnight. However the
times I spend with other people whether it be through meetings or simply eating
lunch together reminds me of how unique and fascinating each individual can be.
Whether it be their personality or their stories, I am intrigued over and over
again by the differences each person brings to the table yet we can still
connect together in those moments. Now, I am excited for each lunch time in
which I get to spend with friends and whoever decides to join around the table
that week.
3. Where does Radical
Hospitality fit into the bigger picture of God's Kingdom?
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| Hosting Servant Partners. I wasn't allowed to help. |
I believe that Radical Hospitality fits into the bigger
picture because Jesus demonstrated it himself. I believe that Jesus
demonstrated an unconditional love to those whom society would deem the lowest
of low. Jesus loved the children (Mark 9:37), the women (Mark 10:1-12), the
crippled, the blind and those with diseases. These were the outcasts in the
time and culture when Jesus was around. Going through the book of Mark, Jesus
does something incredible for those whom society would ignore or glance over.
Jesus acknowledges their presence, accepts them and loves them, and in turn
gives their humanity back to them. Therefore I believe we are called to do the
same, I believe there are many people that are outcasts, and as we learn and
develop the gift of hospitality, we will become more aware of those who do not
fit in. I believe that radical hospitality requires us to extend to places
where we may feel uncomfortable, and sometimes unsafe. However, the desire to
feel wanted and loved are things that everyone desires and if we have the
desire to demonstrate Jesus’ love for others it should be more than enough to give
us reason to push through the uncomfortable situations and love those around
us. There are those who are on the fringes, or fallen through the cracks of
society. I believe as Christians as we continue in radical hospitality we are
called to love those around us whether it be simply talking to them, giving
them a meal, or letting them sleep at your house for the night.
4. Where do you hope
the community will be at the end of the summer around Radical Hospitality?
I hope the community will be at a place in which even in
the uncomfortable situations we will push through to love and accept those
around us. To notice those who fall through the cracks and are in need of
community. Amidst all the worries or concerns people would have, to push through
and lean into trusting God and to be able to set aside judgment and love those
others would deem weird, awkward or disgusting and to just love them and see
them for who they truly are just as Jesus loved and accepted them.
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