Sweet Sabbath - Radically Ordinary Hospitality

"Radically ordinary hospitality doesn't keep fussy lists or make a big deal about invitations.  Invitations are open....Practicing radically ordinary hospitality necessitates building margin time into the day, time where regular routines can be disrupted by not destroyed....When radically ordinary hospitality is lived out, members of God's household are told that they are not alone in their struggles or their joys." 

 ~Rosaria Butterfield, "The Gospel Comes With a House Key"

Oh, that's one of my goals...to show people that they are NOT alone in their struggles or their joys. This weekend has given us opportunities to come alongside colleagues in both situations.  I love how our SITAG family doesn't really need a reason to celebrate.  The reason given for fireswinging (Olivia continues to be the champion)?  The Choates haven't gotten on the boat yet!  I've always been a strong advocate for celebrations of any sort, and this article helps me articulate why.

With our extra "gift of availability" this weekend, we've been able to offer frequent babysitting services to some of the cutest kids around.  When we thought the boat was leaving on Saturday night, we grieved that we were leaving our SITAG family in the midst of many needs.  But sticking around has given us the opportunity to help out just a little bit.

This morning, we woke up to a brilliant double rainbow as the sun rose behind us and the rain came toward us.  Such a sweet, loving gift from our Creator to begin the day.

"The purpose of radically ordinary hospitality is to build, focus, deepen, and strengthen the family of God, pointing others to the Bible-believing local church, and being earthly and spiritual good to everyone we know.  When our Christian homes are open, we make transparent to a watching world what Christ is doing with our bodies, our families, and our world." ~Rosaria Butterfield

Build.  Focus.  Deepen.  Strengthen.  I love the authenticity and transparency that life here brings.  We discovered this afternoon that an old friend (who used to live next door to us in Dallas) was attending a workshop here at SITAG this week.  So he joined us last minute for supper - the buns that I originally made to eat on the ship.  What's on the table doesn't matter as much as who is around the table.   The food has been simple and the fellowship has been so sweet.