Spiritual Hospitality

When I began my interfaith journey I never expected that my own faith would be deepened and strengthened. It has come as a complete surprise to me. If I would have known this was going to be the result of making friends with people from other faiths I would have started along time ago. I feel so blessed by my new friends.

Richard Mouw, who is the president of Fuller Theological Seminary and actively involved in interfaith dialogue, writes about spiritual hospitality. It is through spiritual hospitality that my faith has been deepened and strengthened. When showing hospitality I attend to a person’s physical needs, I make room for them in my physical spaces. I prepare food. I provide a bed. I make sure their needs are met. Spiritual hospitality is making room for people in my heart and my mind. Making room for someone does not mean that I change my beliefs. Instead when I make room for someone my life is enriched. I care about them as my friends. I pray for them. I listen to them. I want to know them. My faith is deepened and strengthened.

As we approach the Thanksgiving season I hope that you will demonstrate spiritual hospitality to those in your community. In the Fort Wayne community there are two important interfaith services occurring were hospitality can be demonstrated.

The first is an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service to be held at First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, November 22, beginning at 7:00 pm.  It is being jointly sponsored by Plymouth Congregational Church UCC, First Presbyterian Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, Trinity English Lutheran Church, Temple Achduth Vesholom, and the Fort Wayne Islamic Center (Masjid al-Quds).  This year's preacher is Imam and Khateeb J. Tamir Rasheed from the Muslim community.

The second is on Sunday, December 4, 6:00 pm, at First Presbyterian Church. Representatives from nine religious traditions in our area (Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Ethical Humanist, Earth Traditions, Hindu, Jew, Muslim, Sikh) will gather together to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in an Interfaith Prayer for Human Rights.  Prayers, Scripture, song, dance, and other expressions of faith from the various religious traditions will be shared.  Dalia Eshkenazi Landau, from Jerusalem, founder of The Open House of Ramle, and a main character of Sandy Tolan's internationally-acclaimed “The Lemon Tree”, will be the keynote speaker.  Fellowship will follow with sweets and treats from various cultures.

            Showing spiritual hospitality will enrich your life more than you can imagine. Happy Thanksgiving.