fellowship should be spontaneous

Yesterday some friends came by, hoping to find a haven while they waiting for their Somali ESL student/our neighbor to return home for their weekly lesson. Dinner was in the oven, Ben had just walked in the door moments before their arrival, and I couldn't be more glad. This, my friends, is the work of God in my heart. Most of the time, my life is characterized by a whole lot of self-centeredness when it comes to time and space. Now, mind you, it took me a repentant moment to remember that these people were sisters and were in need of something from us (and were not interrupting our dinner or soaking up precious time). God also graciously reminded me of our desire, even when Ben and I first married, to create an open home for people to feel welcome to pop over and visit whenever. So, we invited them to eat dinner with us and it was an encouraging time of fellowship.

It's just not the American way to just drop by for a visit. There must be formal invitations and etiquette for such things as length of stay and points of conversation should always be strictly practiced. The notions of personal space, time, property, etc. are foreign concepts, but they are also a danger to the community Christians are to foster with one another. Community doesn't have to be exhausting. Wouldn't it be refreshing if surprise visits were an encouragement to the soul?

God has given Ben and I this season in which I can be at home more, learning how to cook and manage our home (without requiring that it always be spotless- between Ben and I, that just ain't gonna happen) while he studies hard at school. Since studying days are over (in the formal sense at least) for me, I have a window of about 5 months now to begin cultivating a hospitable heart, even as God works in me to do so. That way, it's just part of life once little Woodward comes along. Between living a full, working life in Washington, DC to studying full time at seminary, it's been difficult to do much more than the occasional meal by invitation. There was neither strong desire nor energy for the kind of hospitality I am speaking of here. For those times, I am thankful for the grace and kind teaching of the Lord. And now this, this is the life I've longed for! Kid on the hip, hands messy in the kitchen, singing into a broom, loving and serving others in the day to day mess of life.

Just as an added bonus (hopefully not only to me and the baby who has inherited a long line of sugar lovers) I've decided to make regular batches of cookies (because I like them and know others do too) for those impromptu drop-ins. We had one of those last night with some of our favorite Louisvillians (hmm, that's an interesting term, but it works). Sugar cookies and good friends. What could be better?

As I've reflected today on the joy it was to welcome our friends into our home last night, however messy or disorganized things may have been, to love and serve them, I thank God for pushing me out of my self-focused comfort to be a means of grace to others. May this be the start of many suprise and spontaneous visits! I'm not ready, but I sure am excited.