A couple of months ago my husband and I decided we needed someone to help us keep our house clean. We hired Olga, originally from Mexico who brought a younger woman, Anna from Guatemala. They come every two weeks and the second time they came, I was eating a sandwich when Anna came into the kitchen. I asked her if she was hungry and she immediately nodded yes. I was struck by her look of hunger, it was a look I had never seen before. So of course I made her and Olga a sandwich. When they returned 2 weeks later and since then, every time they come I prepare lunch for us and we eat together. Even though Anna does not speak any English, through these lunches and Olga as interpreter, I have found out that Anna is 36 years old, has four children and a granddaughter, all of whom she has not seen for these past three and a half years. It's heartbreaking.
I have been blessed with being able to share food and engage with strangers twice a month. I'm recently retired so am home a lot and feel isolated when aches and pains surface but get energized on days when Olga and Anna come over.
I credit my actions to Jesus's words that whatever you do to the least of my brothers and my Italian-American upbringing of warmly welcoming whoever turns up and the Holy Spirit for systematizing this unexpected fortnightly luncheon. But I also credit you Elizabeth, for writing Fully Alive which I read last summer. You remind us how vital it is to make an effort to reach out to people who are different, who are strangers to us.
I think it was Flannery O'Connor who said some ideas have to be made into fiction so they can be understood. That's been resonating with me more and more lately.
Being hospitable can be dinner or tea/coffee. As a mother, I'm very protective of my children and who they interact with so dinner with someone I don't know well or someone with whom my relationship is only professional requires a different kind of hospitality. Maybe for the stranger it's inviting them on a walk, for a work acquaintance it might be popping into their office to see if they want to have lunch together. Things can grow from there.
I'm reminded of a story my father told me about a man he met who ran a community food pantry. This man had been sexually abused by his own father from early childhood to his teens, then became an addict and a homeless prostitute. One day, when he was lying on the sidewalk, filthy and half-awake a pretty woman in a nice car (his description) pulled over, got out and knelt down next to him and said, "I've seen you here for a few days. I can't take you home with me. But I can pray for you. And you can ask Jesus to help you. And he will because he loves you and I love you." The man said that moment changed his whole trajectory. He believed he was loved for the first time in his life. He remained an addict for a few more weeks but eventually sought help and gave his life to Christ. I consider what that woman did to be an act of hospitality. She could have driven by and prayed for him, but she made the effort to go to him.
Really enjoyed this - the judgement stuff aside. Was thinking that it might be widened to include those who work in caring - nurses, care workers, volunteers and those who dedicate their time and energy to helping others. Maybe hospitality workers too. Of course, that is complicated by the transactional nature of much work. But, there are many people who are doing such work for more humane reasons: because they genuinely care about others and want to spend their time helping others. Aren't these "welcoming strangers", albeit at a more social level and not into their personal lives? Isn't this more realistic than the idea of literally "welcoming strangers" into your personal space, your home, a somewhat risky proposition in this modern world?
A couple of months ago my husband and I decided we needed someone to help us keep our house clean. We hired Olga, originally from Mexico who brought a younger woman, Anna from Guatemala. They come every two weeks and the second time they came, I was eating a sandwich when Anna came into the kitchen. I asked her if she was hungry and she immediately nodded yes. I was struck by her look of hunger, it was a look I had never seen before. So of course I made her and Olga a sandwich. When they returned 2 weeks later and since then, every time they come I prepare lunch for us and we eat together. Even though Anna does not speak any English, through these lunches and Olga as interpreter, I have found out that Anna is 36 years old, has four children and a granddaughter, all of whom she has not seen for these past three and a half years. It's heartbreaking.
I have been blessed with being able to share food and engage with strangers twice a month. I'm recently retired so am home a lot and feel isolated when aches and pains surface but get energized on days when Olga and Anna come over.
I credit my actions to Jesus's words that whatever you do to the least of my brothers and my Italian-American upbringing of warmly welcoming whoever turns up and the Holy Spirit for systematizing this unexpected fortnightly luncheon. But I also credit you Elizabeth, for writing Fully Alive which I read last summer. You remind us how vital it is to make an effort to reach out to people who are different, who are strangers to us.
I love this, thanks for sharing Angela
Sorry, Suzanne
I think it was Flannery O'Connor who said some ideas have to be made into fiction so they can be understood. That's been resonating with me more and more lately.
Being hospitable can be dinner or tea/coffee. As a mother, I'm very protective of my children and who they interact with so dinner with someone I don't know well or someone with whom my relationship is only professional requires a different kind of hospitality. Maybe for the stranger it's inviting them on a walk, for a work acquaintance it might be popping into their office to see if they want to have lunch together. Things can grow from there.
I'm reminded of a story my father told me about a man he met who ran a community food pantry. This man had been sexually abused by his own father from early childhood to his teens, then became an addict and a homeless prostitute. One day, when he was lying on the sidewalk, filthy and half-awake a pretty woman in a nice car (his description) pulled over, got out and knelt down next to him and said, "I've seen you here for a few days. I can't take you home with me. But I can pray for you. And you can ask Jesus to help you. And he will because he loves you and I love you." The man said that moment changed his whole trajectory. He believed he was loved for the first time in his life. He remained an addict for a few more weeks but eventually sought help and gave his life to Christ. I consider what that woman did to be an act of hospitality. She could have driven by and prayed for him, but she made the effort to go to him.
Love your work, Elizabeth!
Really enjoyed this - the judgement stuff aside. Was thinking that it might be widened to include those who work in caring - nurses, care workers, volunteers and those who dedicate their time and energy to helping others. Maybe hospitality workers too. Of course, that is complicated by the transactional nature of much work. But, there are many people who are doing such work for more humane reasons: because they genuinely care about others and want to spend their time helping others. Aren't these "welcoming strangers", albeit at a more social level and not into their personal lives? Isn't this more realistic than the idea of literally "welcoming strangers" into your personal space, your home, a somewhat risky proposition in this modern world?