Hospitality (noun): Generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:13
Everything I thought I knew and practiced about hospitality flew out the window last month in Japan.
Seriously. It was almost embarrassing to think I had professed to be hospitable before the Race.
Food, drinks, a place to stay, warm clothes to borrow or keep, small gifts, experiences, and more were all offered to me and my team by our Japanese hosts.
But beyond all these material gifts, the offer of friendship, encouragement, and help meant the most. The fact that our hosts strove to encourage and pour into us was humbling. Here we were, ready to serve and love on this country, and they served and loved us so well. From one of the churches praying over all the Racers and calling out greatness in them, to the welcome my host church gave to Tenille and I, to the desire of everyone we met to have us fall in love with this amazing country, Christians and pre-Christians alike outdid themselves in showing Christ’s love to a group of shabby, smelly Racers.
It birthed a desire in me. A desire to love, serve, encourage, and pour into everyone I meet, not just on the Race, but when I go home as well. I want my home to be a place of welcome, rest, peace, and safety. But beyond that, I want to cultivate a spirit of hospitality in myself. I want people who come in contact with me feel the overwhelming love of Christ in my life, and I want that to translate into actions that show others my desire to serve them. If there’s one lesson I want to take away from Japan, it is to humble myself to be hospitable to others. For through serving others and making them feel welcome, Christ will be evident in my life. And He is worth offering to others.
