A Lesson in Community
Today, the girls learned about practicing hospitality in a way that we would not have been able to, had we been in school.
A few weeks ago, while sailing the high seas with our friends, we met a new friend. There are several things to note about this friendship - beginning with the fact that this was our 4th cruise with this group and we had never connected with any other employee to the point of sharing a phone number.
The story goes like this: Matt and I were up kind of early Sunday morning (that is also of note) and, having spent a considerable amount of time in the ship's piano bar, were intrigued by the scheduled "Praise and Worship Music" led by the piano bar entertainer we were enjoying so well. Would it be obvious that he was just someone being paid to provide "Praise and Worship Music" - or was he actually one of us?
We made our way to the lounge for the service and were excited immediately to recognize an authenticity and sincerity to his songs and prayers. We introduced ourselves, chatted a bit, thanked him and promised to see him that night in the bar.
In the time that has passed since we left the boat behind, he has spent time with us twice - both days that the ship has been in port. For a Christian, community is vital - and completely lacking as an employee living on a ship. So we've been happy to provide it, in whatever small capacity we're able.
We knew the ship was in port today and there were plans to check in, but not to hang out. But there was a different plan in place - one that started back when we were up early, wandering around a ship on a Sunday morning. As it turned out, today he really needed a community - a local one - and we were around to provide it.
He said to me today, basically, "If I wasn't a Christian, I would have no way to understand why you are doing all of this for me," and I understood, but was still struck by how true that was - how, to an unbelieving eye, what was happening today probably looked pretty extreme.
The way I see it, there are two factors at work. First, we're supposed to take care of each other. Romans 12:13 tells us to "practice hospitality." That's all that command says. There is no who, when or why. It's just imperative.
Then we're compelled to take care of each other. "...we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to the others." (Romans 12: 5) The faith that binds us together as part of one body is what makes it community. As believers, we understand that there will be times of giving and times of receiving, and if we allow ourselves to participate in both, then we are blessed in ways that cannot be otherwise manufactured.
Our new friend understood that authentic faith gives us a framework in which to place our every experience. Sometimes, the pieces slide right into the frame, and sometimes I have to remind myself to get that frame out of storage. At other times, I am frustrated that there aren't more pieces to add to the frame. But always, the frame is there, removing coincidences, drawing us to one another, adding depth to relationships and giving meaning to acts of kindness.
A few weeks ago, while sailing the high seas with our friends, we met a new friend. There are several things to note about this friendship - beginning with the fact that this was our 4th cruise with this group and we had never connected with any other employee to the point of sharing a phone number.
The story goes like this: Matt and I were up kind of early Sunday morning (that is also of note) and, having spent a considerable amount of time in the ship's piano bar, were intrigued by the scheduled "Praise and Worship Music" led by the piano bar entertainer we were enjoying so well. Would it be obvious that he was just someone being paid to provide "Praise and Worship Music" - or was he actually one of us?
We made our way to the lounge for the service and were excited immediately to recognize an authenticity and sincerity to his songs and prayers. We introduced ourselves, chatted a bit, thanked him and promised to see him that night in the bar.
In the time that has passed since we left the boat behind, he has spent time with us twice - both days that the ship has been in port. For a Christian, community is vital - and completely lacking as an employee living on a ship. So we've been happy to provide it, in whatever small capacity we're able.
We knew the ship was in port today and there were plans to check in, but not to hang out. But there was a different plan in place - one that started back when we were up early, wandering around a ship on a Sunday morning. As it turned out, today he really needed a community - a local one - and we were around to provide it.
He said to me today, basically, "If I wasn't a Christian, I would have no way to understand why you are doing all of this for me," and I understood, but was still struck by how true that was - how, to an unbelieving eye, what was happening today probably looked pretty extreme.
The way I see it, there are two factors at work. First, we're supposed to take care of each other. Romans 12:13 tells us to "practice hospitality." That's all that command says. There is no who, when or why. It's just imperative.
Then we're compelled to take care of each other. "...we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to the others." (Romans 12: 5) The faith that binds us together as part of one body is what makes it community. As believers, we understand that there will be times of giving and times of receiving, and if we allow ourselves to participate in both, then we are blessed in ways that cannot be otherwise manufactured.
Our new friend understood that authentic faith gives us a framework in which to place our every experience. Sometimes, the pieces slide right into the frame, and sometimes I have to remind myself to get that frame out of storage. At other times, I am frustrated that there aren't more pieces to add to the frame. But always, the frame is there, removing coincidences, drawing us to one another, adding depth to relationships and giving meaning to acts of kindness.
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