'Jesus Hospitality' in Our World Today

After reading Luke 24:13-35, often known as the ‘Walk to Emmaus’ this story is about the disciples on a journey and on this journey Jesus was with them, but they didn’t necessarily recognize Jesus right away. (That is a super brief summary.) I was recently asked the question, ‘when has someone been Jesus to you?’ Usually the question is asked, when have you had an opportunity to ‘be Jesus to someone?’ Caught off guard I was led into a memory of challenge, struggle, transformation, and a time when people offered me the hospitality and love of Jesus which is what I needed in that moment of my life. I have always thought about this experience in life as one that was transforming, but I never realized how I experience what I like to call, ‘Jesus hospitality.’ Let me take you to that experience and share about the people who were Jesus to me…

After graduating from Augustana College, I was living my dream in the Summer of 2005 serving as a backpack guide at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. In the middle of the summer I drove to the Denver International Airport to catch a flight to Sioux Falls for my sister Jana and her (now) husband Brian’s wedding. What a joyous experience to be with family and celebrate the love and friendship of two of my great friends. The ceremony was lovely, the reception and dance were loads of fun. Towards the end of the evening my friend Sven and I were Jitter bug dancing with many quick twists and turns. We were dancing in the grass because the dance floor was full and this was a horrible idea. The next thing I know I was unable to bear weight on my ankle and was in excruciating pain. My Mom, a nurse, gave me some IB profen and sent me to bed saying we’ll see how it feels in the morning.

I woke up in pain Saturday morning and unable to bear weight, so we made a trip to the ER. The wonderful doctor looked at the exterior of the injury and made the comment “I don’t think it is broken but we better do an X-ray to double check.” I had total hope, thinking I could be back on trail guiding in just a couple weeks. Minutes later the doctor returned with bad news; my ankle was broken. The tears began to flow and would not stop; here I was living the summer of my dreams; and now those dreams were crushed; I would be unable to backpack and I had no idea how I was going to call and let the camp director know that I would not be able to go out on trail to guide a group that next week. Well, I received my first pair of crutches in my life and off to the farm we went. I was suppose to be flying back to Denver the next day (which I did do, 48 hours after breaking my ankle) and I knew I needed to make the call to camp; fearful that I would not be spending the rest of my summer in the beautiful Colorado Mountains because I was unable to walk without crutches for 6-8 weeks.

Still with tears I called Rainbow Trail to let them know that I broke my ankle and Dave told me; we still have a place for you here, come on back. From this moment on, I experienced many people who were Jesus to me through my struggles. I never experience such incredible hospitality and welcome and have never felt so valued in a time where I felt like I was letting people down and letting myself down as my dreams were shattered. People would see the cast and ask, “what happened?” and I would say “I broke my heart, I mean my ankle.”

There was a girl who was a camphand on staff, at that time I knew her name and not much else about her. Andrea met me at the airport to drive me and my car back to camp—she showed me joy and she gave me the hospitality that Jesus showed so many people. If there was a need; Andrea discovered it and was sure that I was okay and had everything I needed. Andrea was Jesus to me; from her smile to her positive attitude and support from the moment we connected at the airport Andrea treated me like her sister and offered anything needed even though she did not know me well. Being best friends is not a pre-requisite to having Jesus hospitality.

Upon arriving to camp; there was no shame or guilt but a welcome home experience; I felt like the prodigal son. I was embraced with joy and laughter; amongst the many tears that remained in my struggle of shatter dreams. I was more worried about the fact that my dreams were shatter than the fact that I broke my ankle. I felt broken and useless because I was immobile. My dreams were crushed but beyond all things the love I experienced was not. Little did I know how I would reflect and realize how Dave as a leader of this camp was able to create a spirit of grace in this moment of my life and how he was able to ‘be Jesus ‘ to me and exemplify this to all others on the staff. I have never experienced the love of Jesus like I did coming home to a community that offered unconditional love and support no matter what and this is Jesus hospitality.

Jaime and Marnie were two adults up with campers that week onsite and I did not really know them but had heard many stories as they use to work out at camp. They approached me as I was lying on the couch on Columbine and said, “we are taking you to Canon City for lunch.” I responded not knowing if I would be able to do that and they told me they would be sure to arrange so it could happen and off we went to have greasy burgers at the Owl Cafe. All week they were sure to check in with me to see how I was doing and if I needed anything; often they would offer mere conversation, stories, and laughter. They were Jesus to me.

I spent many days doing ‘office work’ for the backpack program and I spent time on the front porch during family camp. The front porch at Rainbow Trail overlooks the Wet Mountain Valley and the back of Pikes Peak; amazing views. I often felt lonely because I was ‘not like everyone else’ and living my role that I came to Rainbow Trail to do all summer. Little did I know how much God was going to teach me and use me during these weeks of ‘brokenness.’ Beyond the view on the front porch I learned to just be; to reflect on God’s presence and to listen to stories and I learned the true art of conversation that took people I knew of or heard of and turned them into friends who still impact my life today. I learned to be in the moments I was blessed with and to make the most of them; from this comes my passion to hear people’s stories. The people who were with me; who took time to be; to play guitar; to share conversation; to sit with me; these people were Jesus to me.

Do you see the trend in all this? There are little things in life that can impact those around you in enormous ways. Up until recently, I have never thought about times when people have been Jesus to me, but when I was asked the question; I then realized how powerful it is to experience Jesus hospitality and love. When has someone been Jesus to you? In the journey to Emmaus in Luke 24 there was conversation and words from Jesus; but ultimately the people did not believe until they saw the actions of Jesus. How are you the actions of Jesus to those you encounter?

Being the actions of Jesus or offering Jesus hospitality is not providing when someone asks for something. Being the Jesus hospitality is intentionally offering the unconditional love and support to those around you all the time. Do you see the need? Do you fulfill the need? Do you fill this world with the unconditional love and support like Jesus did? This love and support is not about what you will get back and it is not about making yourself feel good. Humanity as a whole is on a journey together; we hear the word of God and all about the love of Jesus; but until we put this into action and share the Jesus hospitality this world will not be changed. The little things you can do each day are the Jesus hospitality moments that make a world of difference that will make this world different. From this moment discover how you can be the Jesus hospitality but don’t overlook the people who offer you Jesus hospitality because both are incredible times of transformation.

Part of a bigger picture

250,000 community service hours logged by Lutheran Youth in New Orleans in just three days! As part of my job of director of Teen Life Ministry I took a group of 40 to the National ELCA Lutheran Youth Gathering in New Orleans this July--what I thought was just going to be another youth trip of no sleep and lots of people turned out to be life changing in so many ways for so many people. Check out this article:

Imaging going to a location with 36,000 other people for the common purpose to go beyond ourselves to bring love and peace--little did we know, but this is what happened. Life transformation happened to the 36,000 people that came from all parts of the country, but long-lasting life changes came to the people of the city.

Hurricane Katrina, which happened four years ago in 2005, still lingers among the people and places in New Orleans. My first time in New Orleans was February 2009 and I did not know what to expect, but there was not a sense of joy from the community during that visit. People seemed to still be trying to get back to normal but yet there was so much destruction that remained. Driving around the city I was blown away by how deserted it still was and I felt the cloud of gloom that continued to linger over many people.

Specifically, our group cleared about half of an acre of the backyard at a church in Mandeville and also mulched the playground, I was amazed at how different things look after a day of work. From the many people I know who were also leading groups, I heard many stories of the transformation that occurred. For example, there are many parks around New Orleans that have literally been boarded up since Katrina happened. Imaging being 10 years old and walking by your neighborhood park everyday to see it as a place of destruction. There were 3 different groups that worked on this project; one day the group took down all the boards/ply-wood and the next day a group began to gut the park and on the third day the final touches were complete and the park was usable. On day two, the neighborhood kids came out to sit on the curb and watch; they offered high fives and words of encouragement. This is truly the love of God and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit at work.

Sharing the gospel and love of Jesus is not about going door to door and telling people about the love of Jesus or giving them a pamphlet about how they can love Jesus. Loving our neighbors is sharing the gospel and love of Jesus and helping them restore their community.

The people of the city showed hospitality beyond anything I have experienced in a city that size. Notice the picture above, that sign was at a palm reader station; people poured out love right back to us. I heard a story about a small group going into a restaurant and the locals buying them breakfast, this city is being more transformed than it ever has been. People would drive by and honk their horn, and some even rolled down their windows just to say 'thank you for being here' or 'thank you for helping our city'.

Words cannot express how incredible for me this experience was to be part of the 36,000 people together in New Orleans for a purpose beyond ourselves. This truly was life changing and my prayers continue for the city that they may continue to see the hope within and continue to share the love of Jesus to all people who come to visit.