My teammate Christina wrote this blog about the INCREDIBLE generosity and hospitality we've been shown this month. I wanted to share her blog because it's definitely something we can ALL learn from!
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Generous Hospitality
Exposure to Hospitality
I grew up in an Italian home. Delicious meals of pasta and gravy, chicken cutlets, fish, and steamed vegetables occupy my childhood memories. My family was big on inviting people over for meals. We still joke to this day, that there is always enough leftover food to feed another ten people. When being served a plate by my Grandmother, if you tell her “enough,” you better believe she will give you at least two more servings. I remember my parents leading a “small” group for church at our house on Thursday evenings. This “small” group was rather large. We would take advantage of this opportunity to have a ton of food on hand. Hospitality was something that was interwoven into my life.
For almost four years, I and Derek were part of an intentional community. We would have Tuesday night dinners for the core members, and a community meal on Saturday nights. All were welcome. The amount of people who showed up for a Saturday night meal could be as small as ten, or as large as sixty. Every Saturday was different. Making people feel welcomed was important to us. Hospitality was reinforced during this season of my life.
At this moment, I am now in India. I am deeply humbled by these people in the villages we visit. They are some of the lowest on the caste system, yet they are so quick to give. Chai tea and coffee is a favorite on our team. In every village we visit, we are served that at least two times by two different families. Soda is also given to us on a regular basis. (They think that all Americans live up to the stereotype of drinking soda daily. My teammates help me drink mine. J) A woman in the village we are currently staying in, has been so generous to sew saris for us girls. When we go to the market to purchase fruit, we are always given a few extra bananas or some other fruit. In almost every village after our nightly meeting, some family has prepared us a feast of chapotti, rice, and either chicken or egg with sauce.
Generosity At It’s Best
In Mark 12:41-44, the story of a Widow’s Offering is told. People were coming to the temple to give their offerings. Many rich people showed off their wealth by their extravagant, showy giving. Then a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins that were worth only a fraction of a penny. Jesus pointed her out to his disciples, saying, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, gave out of her poverty, put in everything- all she had to live on.” These verses come to mind when I think about the generous giving of the people here in India. They have given out of their poverty. In their need, they delight in giving. I for so long have given out of my excess. Can I come to a place where I too can give out of my depravity?
My Stinginess Exposed
Daily we are driven to our ministry sights by a local Pastor who also happens to be a Rick-Shaw[1] driver. We pay him about 600 rupees[2] a day. He drives us to the village, helps watch the musical instruments when we are not using them, and then usually eats dinner with us. Last Saturday, on our day off, some of our team went Rock hiking, and then later in the evening we went into town to use the Internet. I could feel the “justice” coming out in me when I saw the man insisting he drive us to the restaurant for lunch, that was within walking distance. “Do we have to pay for his lunch and 600 rupees, when we don’t need him all day?” I thought to myself. He also insisted on hanging around the village for a few hours prior to us going to the Internet Café. It took some time for my heart to be exposed. I quietly simmered. I do not like being taken advantage of. When I was quiet enough to listen, the Spirit gently whispered, “Christina, you get served a free meal every evening by the generosity of people who have so little. This man’s wife was the first of many to prepare you a meal. Are you going to withhold when you have so much?” Ouch.
Repent and Be Forgiven
Abba, forgive me when I am long on justice, and short on mercy. Forgive me when my desire to not be taken advantage of, is larger than my desire to be generous. Please make me like the generous widow, and the people in the village of India. May I come to the end of myself, so I may learn how to give out of my depravity, instead of my wealth. Amen.
