Hospitality.

We were given an assignment this morning.  Go and be hospitable.  We weren't given any sort of extra instructions, but simply that, go and be hospitable.  So I thought about it.  Hospitality has to do with treating guests or strangers warmly.  And I was in Chicago, where there are about 2.8 million strangers (minus the 100 some odd people I've met so far) so advantage me.  I didn't really have a place to host, so I decided to create one.

I took two armchairs from our flat, awkwardly toted them (with the help of Tim Wenger, he's quite helpful) about a half a block in front of a somewhat busy intersection and set them up facing the street.  I then placed a sign that simply said, "wanna talk?" on the chair opposite of me and waited.  I wasn't really sure what to expect, the idea was really in the moment, and I decided to run with it.

I felt kind of foolish, and after ten minutes all I thought that would result was awkward stares and a sunburnt nose (the only shade I had was courtesy of a year old tree that didn't have the most impressive set of leaves).  People weren't really rude... they just weren't quite sure what was going on.  After these painfully slow minutes I had what I thought was my first customers.  Unfortunately, Johan and Mary Jane (I really couldn't make these names up) were taking their dogs on a walk, but told me they really wanted to talk with me and they'd be back in an hour.  I nodded, smiled and said I'd be here.

Seconds after they left, a middle aged Panamanian woman wearing some sort pirate-looking bandana and large hoop earrings sat down, thoroughly fascinated that someone was here to just talk.  It quickly turned into an evangelism session of sorts and it was my soul that needed saving.  It was a religion of Japanese origins and centered in large part on cause and effect and karma and sounded very exotic... I think it started with an n.  She asked me about my faith and what I was doing here, and I clumsily did my best to explain Mennonites (she was well versed with Christianity) and how I was going to Paraguay and she was quite patient and receptive through all of this.  I sensed that she wanted to talk more and so I opened the door for her to speak and she continued to tell me about her belief system.  This all went down in about 45 minutes.

After Miriam left, I pulled out my required reading, Foreign to Familiar, and squinted through about 5 pages before I decided to surrender my battle with the sun.  I looked around.  People now seemed more receptive to the pale twenty year old with braces sitting on the corner of Hazel and Wilson.  I got some smiles, a few waves and even an enthusiastic thumbs up from a passing car.  I felt good.

Then Hutch showed up.  He was 53 wanted to talk about Revelation.  At least that's what he told me.  Hutch was homeless, and after exchanging a few words about the last book of Bible, he started telling me about his life in short responses... he needed some prodding.  But I'm pretty sure he wanted to talk, I mean he sat down.  I found out he had lived in Chicago his whole life and played multiple positions in football in high school (left end, center and leftfield.  I think the last one was a joke.) and his favorite book was a biography of Hellen Keller.  But Hutch left as quickly as Miriam showed up.   He told me he needed a phone to call his uncle.  I asked him where his uncle lived.  He said about a block that way.  I said why don't you just visit him?  And then he sat up and left.

After Hutch had gone, I was kind of sweating, the sun was starting to crisp my face and I had a slushee appointment with James in 10 minutes... I called it an afternoon.

I think I learned a few things through this exercise on hospitality. 

One, people genuinely want to talk.  They want to express their opinions, they want others to agree with them and a lot of times they just need to be listened too.  I do.  Second, you have to be intentional about listening, especially when you don't agree with someone.  It wasn't easy sitting through Miriam talking for 45 minutes about her religion.  I appreciated what she had to say, but it was work hearing about the intricacies of her beliefs.  There were moments when Hutch and I just kind of stared at each other.  That was fine.  It was kinda awkward then, but I'm still here.

Finally, people appreciate when you make the effort for hospitality... or whatever it is I did this afternoon.  People seemed to think it was a good idea, with the approving smiles as well as the verbal affirmation I got from Johan and Miriam.  Its important to welcome them whoever they are.  I suppose they'll appreciate when you try.  I think this is how I need to approach things in Paraguay... with a level of caring and effort.  I don't know what my action's today led to, but I think it reinforced some important beliefs.

Daniel