B&B Hospitality

For our anniversary a few years ago my wife and I set off for a weekend retreat. We found a quaint Bed & Breakfast in one of our favorite places here in Indiana and planned on a relaxing, comfortable time together. We had stayed in a Bed & Breakfast before and expected the homey atmosphere, the down-home hospitality, the accomodations like being hosted by one of your own family. But there was something missing.

While the accomodations were splendid, the room comfortable, the breakfast hot and delicious, the setting nearly perfect (as it was just on the edge of a golf course!), the problem was the feeling. Our host had changed from one day to the next. This B&B didn't have a live in caretaker, it had employees. It didn't feel like being a guest in someone's home, rather it was like staying there without them being present. We didn't feel as if we were treated with hospitality (like a B&B's reputation) but with customer service.

I've been in churches who have offered customer service. I've been served by Christians who gave customer service. It was something they thought they had to do, was expected of them, would give pleasure to God. But that's not what God had in mind for us. We were not called to work for God, becoming employees of the kingdom. We were called to work with God as participants in the kingdom.

"Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!" (Hebrews 13:1-2, The Message)

Hospitality is about being real. It is about being who we are, or who we were made to be. It's about looking beyond my own needs toward the needs of others. It's about being Christ in the flesh for someone else. It's not something that is required of us rather it is expected of us. It is how were are treated by God and how God wants us to treat others. It's what's expected of the Church.

But sometimes hospitality goes beyond what happens when we entertain guests in our house (or church). Hospitality happens outside the church walls, too. "So let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is - not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This "insider world" is not our home. We have eyes peeled for the City about to come." (Hebrews 13:13-14, The Message) We are to be hospitable for the Kingdom. That's our home and it's to be opened to all on the outside!

I don't know if we'll ever stay in a B&B again. For the feelings we got, I think we'd rather stay in an inn or a nice hotel. Good customer service is better than fake hospitality any day. And real hospitality is priceless.

Peace ><>
PC