Promoting Hospitality as a Way of Life

1. Promoting Hospitality as a Way of Life

2. Introduction: The Value of Hospitality • Hospitality is a valuable spiritual asset grounded in the sacredness of spiritual consciousness that cares for humanity through a shared system of values and principled attitudes that enable us to structure, build, and benefit our communities. • Communities are not limited to people alone, but extend to all creatures, the environment, the planet, and the universe(s) as we warmly welcome curiosity in to develop and expand our understanding. This is normally accomplished through symbolic narratives, even as stories of our lives, that change, develop, and rise with every experience.

3. Introduction: The Value of Hospitality • Within each story, symbols of hospitality are richly presented that encourage aspects of hospitable behavior based on a spiritual foundation; while many simultaneously overcome and resolve inhospitable acts of hostility, a hostage situation, and violent, even cruel behavior through this error-correcting system. • These stories also give a spiritually scientific approach, a method to guide thought systematically through a step-by-step process as hospitable behavior is cultivated through observation, thoughtful questions, and gentle experiments that test our inspiration by moving us out of our comfort zones and into a vivified way of life.

4. The Story of Abraham Genesis:12 Abraham was called by God to follow a step-by-step process of inner spiritual growth : • Follow God’s command • Separate himself from his own heredity, heritage, traditions, and tribal views • Transcend his own sensory indulgences • Overcome great hostility from others, as experienced in the war with the five kings • Be rewarded by the hospitality of Melchizedek, King of Salem (Peace), who appeared with nourishment – bread, wine, and blessings – for Abram's perseverance in seeking, finding, and utilizing his newly-discovered spiritual assets with each step taken • Be renamed Abraham, personally identifying with thosespiritual qualities as his own nature

5. Lessons from the Story of Abraham • Each step Abraham took, and each challenge he overcame, was rewarded by others until he was able to provide that same sense of hospitality to others through his now proven advanced spiritual qualities. Only then would God’s Biblical promise be fulfilled and multiplied throughout the communities and nations that Abraham would father. • This same pattern will work for us in building the true sense of community. • As community workers, we too will be faced or even blind-sided at times with various issues or challenges from co-workers, authorities, or political figures.

6. The Parable of the Good Samaritan Through the famous Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus gives an answer showing how hostile brutality could be overcome through a relationship endowed with the full range of hospitality. • See: Luke 10:30-34, 36-37, World Bible

7. Lessons from theParable of the Good Samaritan • The Good Samaritan displayed an unequaled sense of hospitality that incorporated moral courage in the midst of hostile territory. • The road where the Good Samaritan happened upon the brutalized stranger was known as “The Way of Blood,” due to the constant, savage muggings normally ending in death. • The Good Samaritan's response also illustrated a new and more advanced model of hospitality, one calling us to aid another in less than welcoming, even abhorrent, circumstances. • Yet, here was a Samaritan with a consciousness so undefiled, so pure, that he did not see an enemy.

8. Hospitality in the Face of a Hostage Situation in the Justice System • Protection comes from embodying those spiritual qualities belonging to hospitality – an open, receptive, and nurturing love for humanity, along with drawing on the inner peace that calms and comforts no matter the storm. • To act hospitably sometimes means moving out of one’s personal comfort zone; and it can mean taking some risk. But hospitable action is an incredibly powerful way to expand mind and heart.

9. Definition: The Nature andScope of Hospitality • Hospitality is a compound idea that incorporates a number of spiritual values tightly woven together. Its overarching essence is Love – a love for all of Life's manifestations that takes into consideration the artful details of: • ambience - that warms and enchant the senses • service - that provides a rhythm to life's expressions • cuisine - that satisfies the heart with attentive care and tenderness • entertainment - that promotes festivity • protection - that furnishes a safe haven • Historically, hospitality was considered a sacred place for shelter and sustenance for travelers, but more to receive strangers as guests throughout all known cultures. As modified by time and through a detached sense of humanity, the focus shifted to the “...business of entertaining clients, business delegates, and other official visitors.” further severing theties that bind the hearts of men in fellowship.

10. The Importance of Hospitality and Hospitable Behavior for Community Building • The Relevance of Hospitable Behavior • People are hungry for community. • Being hospitable can transform all of our relationships. • The Convergence of the Sciences and Spirituality in Hospitable Behavior • Neuroscience and psychotherapy are including and adopting spiritual practices. • The Effects of Hospitality in Community Building • It stirs the human sentiments to a more loving standard of being – cooperating and cohabitating as neighborhoodswithin communities.

11. Favorable Conditions forBeing Hospitable It is especially desirable and useful to be hospitable when: • There have been particular conflicts in the community. • There is a particular opportunity for community leaders and members to promote hospitality, such as when there has been an influx of new residents to the community, whether as job-seekers, refugees, or otherwise. • Some members of the community have been criticized, rejected, or physically or emotionally harmed simply because of their association with a particular group or category.

12. How to Be Hospitable: Stories and Lessons of Hospitality in Action • Hospitality Across Cultural Divides • Teaching Children Hospitality – From the Remote Areas of Africa • Hospitality within an Interfaith Foundation on a University Campus • Hospitality in Sunday School Classes and Neighborhood Open Forums • Hospitality in the Resort Industry • Hospitality from a Unique Bed andBreakfast Perspective

13. The Transformative Powerof Hospitality As we learn more about the guiding principles of hospitality, do not be surprised if a transformation begins to appear. Where might that transformation lead? • Within yourself • Toward others • And the community

14. Developing and Promoting theArt of Hospitality • Teaching and Learning Hospitality and Hospitable Behavior through a Meditative Practice • Real-life Examples of How Meditative Practice Inspires Building Community • Training Volunteers in the Art of Hospitality • Hospitality within the Neighborhood • The Direct Healing Power of Hospitality

15. Potential Start-up Ideas for Hospitality in Neighborhoods • Community Hospitality Night • Hospitality Gift Baskets for New Neighbors • Some Other Ideas: • Block parties • Cooking a shared meal • A potluck meal with friends • An open house

16. Some Lessons for Community Builders • Address our own spiritual centeredness and develop a starting point of peace • Identify a community's needs • Unlock innovative approaches to serve basic human needs hospitably • Community builders should ask: • Does this innovation address a basic need in a new and creative way? • What new expectations will be created? • What impact will it have on the community? • How will it influence the community's residents, visitors, and tourists? • Will there be any ramifications from the proposed change(s)? • How will hospitality's qualities continue to be the motivating force for residents and visitors alike? • Inspire hospitable behavior

17. Challenges, Issues, andQuestions for Reflection • How it would be for you to receive hospitality, from the perspective of an immigrant refugee? • Are you prepared to offer some semblance of comfort? • Two fundamental characteristics of hospitality: • The core identity of every person is their spiritual nature • We are all interdependent • The more we challenge ourselves through daily practice to be hospitable in all situations, the more we will not have to think about it – for we will discover we are being it.

18. Overarching Conclusions • The art of hospitality is being at one with this system of spiritual values and their behavioral qualities. • To effectively cultivate and develop the qualities of hospitality, it needs to become your daily practice. • Critical thinking is imperative to a healthy community. • A community infused with hospitality changes lives, in ways subtle and sublime.