Let all guests that come be received like Christ. (Rule of St. Benedict)

Monks know about hospitality. They live it day in and day out. They are hospitable when it's not convenient. They practice hospitality with their brothers in the community and with those "seculars" who come for retreat or seek counsel. I'm learning that I have a lot to learn about that kind of hospitality. The kind of hospitality that allows people "in" our life. In Benedict's time, travelers often needed a place to stay for the night. After all, there weren't any Hilton Hotels around in that day. I'd imagine it was a common thing to feed and care for people as they traveled. Hospitality would have been "normal." I wonder why it's not a "normal" part of our lives today? (Or perhaps I'm alone in this?) To be honest, it's difficult, time-consuming, expensive and inconvenient to practice hospitality. Yet, it's part of being whole. I'm not sure we can be healthy and whole without it.

Hospitality is the overflowing of a heart that has to share what it has received. It takes a whole person to open up, it takes a secure person to be available, it takes a strong person to give yourself away. (p. 20, Radical Hospitality)

Hospitality is about me learning to open my heart. Again, a quote from Radical Hospitality:

Here is the core of hospitality: May I know you better? Will you come closer, please? No, it will not be easy, but make no mistake about it, your life depends on this saving stranger coming to you and stretching your tight little heart. (p. 36)

Maybe this is the time of my life to learn this lesson. Let's hope so.

Peace.