Upon making new acquaintances,

my first instinct is to bring them home,

to flood our home and lives with humanity —

its voices, its forms, its ideas, its beauty and its brokenness.

–Karen Burton Mains, “Open Heart Open Home.”

Have you ever walked through a revolving door —- the kind seen at the entrance of a fancy hotel or big city bank? Installing one at my house seems like a good idea on occasion. The way I have it figured as guests approach they can simply quicken their steps to avoid being hit on the backside and hurry on in. The benefit to me is cleanliness; wind, autumn debris, tag-along pets, and muddy shoes can be left outside and guests can be quickly swooped inside.

It would also fit well with the open door policy we instituted years ago. If you want a cup of coffee and some of our attention, come see us. Twenty-eight years ago, when my husband and I set up house, we were greatly influenced by writer Karen Burton Mains’ book, “Open Heart Open Home.” She contends that Christian hospitality is just another word for love and when you learn the joy of sharing, that brings you closer to God. In light of this approach, I cringe at moments when friends show up as I dump a load of laundry onto the kitchen table to be folded, but I figure they are arriving to see us and not our undergarments. The parade of people has been a highlight in my life.

In fact, there is rarely a dull moment and sometimes I get caught doing things that look just a bit silly. The other day I greeted several kids who found me lying on the carpet to soak up some stray rays of sunshine and read a book during a lazy Sunday afternoon. I felt toasty and sleepy and could not for the life of me move off my spot to personally answer the door. I hollered a greeting and waved as they walked into the room. They were a great interruption.

I am learning that there are few times when I sense God is calling me to be entertaining. What I think God really wants me to be is hospitable. Available. Welcoming. Generous. Spontaneous. Somewhat vulnerable and always real.

I watched hospitality in action every single time I was invited to visit Nicky Robson’s home as a young girl. Nicky took her expertise as a homemaker and moved into the role of head caterer during the years she ran the large industrial kitchen at our church. She also loved more than anything to bring her large extended family together for holidays, anniversaries and birthdays, and Nicky and her husband Bill were never deterred by their modest income or small home.

By the time we all arrived we not only filled every single room of their house, but poured out into their backyard as well. Frankly, they had no real place to put us but it never mattered. We lined up in her kitchen, heaped our plates with the most amazing food, then headed to any available spot to visit and eat. Many times we grabbed a spot on the rug or snagged the corner of a bed. And yet we would rather be in their home than any other place. They modeled grace and love, charm and generosity. They were all that God called them to be and continue to serve as examples, even after their passing.

Let’s give some thought this week to those who rotate in and out of our homes. May ways to love and serve them be our motives and may we anticipate the untold blessings. They will be there.