Opening Up A Space

I went to my favorite Whole Foods market to buy the organic honey I enjoy.
I put a few other things in my basket and walked up to the cash register.
As I approached the counter, I was surprised to see a little girl.
She was sitting up on the counter hugging a very worn stuffed animal.

I held my basket since there was no place to put it down.
Her daddy was finishing his purchase.
She was watching everyone, still hugging her special stuffed friend.
I noticed her hair; it was so blond, it was almost white.

A woman would have called it, bed head; however on a little child, it was simply precious.
She had tiny sandals on her feet and was dressed for summer.
She turned and saw me and smiled.
Who is that? I asked her as she held out her stuffed friend just a bit.

The little girl said a name that I could not understand.
I assumed correctly that her stuffed friend was also a girl.
She looks so soft and cuddly, I said as the little girl hugged her tightly and kissed her head.
Her daddy lifted her off the counter; the little girl waved to me as she left the store.

Prior to shopping at my favorite Whole Foods market, I had breakfast with a friend.
We had a lot of catching up to do.
There were wonderful things and difficult things that she shared.
A lot of life has happened since we last saw each other.

My friend prayed before we ate.
I remember her thanking the Lord for opening up the space for us to be together.
I thought about her simple prayer the rest of the afternoon.
Thank you, Lord for opening up the space for us to be together.

Do we realize that it is indeed the Lord who opens up the space?
No interaction is random.
Each interaction has significance from an eternal perspective.
God does not waste anything.

We go about our days unaware.
We miss moments.
What if we went about our days with our eyes wide open?
What if we paid attention to the things that we hear each day?

Four years ago, Kristin Schell ordered two picnic tables for a party. She was a reliable hostess in her Austin community, a thrower of book clubs, barbecues, and neighborhood Bible studies. Schell had read Romans 12:13—“Take every opportunity to open your life and home to others” (The Voice)—and took Paul’s words seriously. But all the planning and prepping was driving the mother of four crazy, and entertaining never seemed to yield the depth of community she craved. Surely, “every opportunity” didn’t mean always. So what did the verse mean?

When the Lowe’s delivery men arrived with the tables, they dropped one in Schell’s front yard. Before she had a chance to redirect them, Schell had an unorthodox thought: What if she left the table there, right next to the street, and made a point to show up? With a splash of paint—specifically, Sherwin-Williams Nifty Turquoise—Schell christened her creation. As she sat outside every morning praying, she began to meet people she had lived next to for years. “I started learning the difference between entertaining and hospitality,” Schell says. “Entertainment… you can’t do all the time, you can’t do that at every opportunity. Hospitality is a way of life. It’s not what we’re doing; it’s who we are.” (Christianity Today, June 2017)

Can you imagine?
An innocent delivery mistake became a hub of hospitality.
Apparently, the idea is catching on.
Bright blue tables are popping up across the country.

Do we need a table?
What is the reason the blue table worked so beautifully to bring neighbors together?
The answer is pretty simple.
It is simply showing up.

Being there.
Being available.
Being fully present.
Opening up the space to be with your neighbors.

My friend’s prayer came to mind.
Hospitality is indeed quite different from entertaining.
Hospitality does not need perfect place settings or matching placemats and napkins.
Hospitality uses mismatched mugs for coffee or tea, even if they’re chipped.

Hospitality is serving sandwiches on paper plates and not feeling bad about it.
Hospitality is cutting an apple and serving it with grapes, and cheese, and crackers.
Hospitality is a glass of cold water on a hot day.
Hospitality is stretching the amount of soup in the pot so two more people can come to dinner.

Hospitality is showing up, making space, listening well, and offering a kind smile.
Hospitality was expected in Jewish culture during Jesus’ time.
It was unacceptable to refuse hospitality to another person.
Somehow, with the world literally at our fingertips, we have forgotten how to be hospitable.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. (Maya Angelou)

Can you imagine what showing up would look like in our neighborhoods?
Can you imagine what making space would mean to someone else?
Can you imagine spending the afternoon listening rather than talking?
Can you imagine how a kind smile could ripple around the world?

But no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler. (Job 31:32)

A wonderful Mennonite man made a garden bench for me years ago.
The back of the bench was an old picket fence.
I painted it turquoise blue.
The original garden bench was rained on too many times, so a duplicate was made.

Another Mennonite man made the same garden bench for me out of poly resin material.
He made it turquoise blue.
It hold plants and a watering can but has also held iced tea and lemonade for those that stop by.
My turquoise blue garden bench is there for anyone who jut shows up; they are always welcome.

2 responses to “Opening Up A Space”

1. Love this….so relevant to a conversation I had with a friend at lunch today. Thanks for sharing and always being aware of what God is doing in the little things, as well as the big things, throughout your day!
   Would love to ask God to make space for us next time I’m in PA. Hugs

   Reply

   • Diane,
     I am glad that this post blessed you. I am delighted that it was timely after your lunch with your friend. I trust that God will open up a space for us to be together the next time you are in PA. You are loved, friend.
     Gina

     Reply