Hospitality is defined as the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. On an elemental level, it’s simply when one person opens their heart to another. It’s when we, as humans, show interest in someone else. It’s when we invest the time and interest to get to know them.
There are many ways to be hospitable. In business, you can treat all customers and prospective customers in a friendly and welcoming manner. You can make them feel valued and special. The most successful businesses figure out how to do this over the long-haul.
On a personal level, you can open your home to people. I have friends that always seem to have company. They have a very welcoming spirit and never seem to turn anyone away. They have meals together and host quality opportunities for fellowship.
The thing about genuine hospitality is that it’s not about you, the host, but it starts with you. It’s really about your guest, and you need to have the awareness and humility to subordinate your interests to those of your guest. You need to have a servant’s mindset.
Personally for me that means serving others in God’s name. One way in which I do that is with the Neighborly Love podcast. The purpose of the podcast is to create a safe space where we can get to know God’s heart and mind through my guest. It’s about them feeling valued and understood. It’s about depositing money in our relational bank. It’s about me serving them so their voice can be heard, which hopefully touches the hearts of the listeners. If only one person is touched by their story, then it’s worth it.
The podcast is one way I attempt to lean into the power of empathy. Like any skill, it can be mastered, and while I have a long way to go to developing it as a superpower, I am committed to it. After all, nothing is more hospitable than empathy.
If you’re interested in subscribing to the Neighborly Love podcast, then I’d be grateful. The first two episodes are published and you can listen to them wherever you enjoy podcasts: Apple iTunes, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play.
MindWolves 