I’ve mused over this statement a little bit, because, the truth is, I actually am around people. Our girls figure skate, and I see parents in the stands – six feet away. I work outside of the home – both as an essential worker in the newspaper field and as a photographer who is in the field and on location. I see my neighbors and a specific circle of friends. I do see people.
So, am I really missing people? It might be more accurate to say that I miss those drop-in hospitality moments – the days when people rang your doorbell just because, when your friend was having a tough day and you invited her in for tea, when playdates included children and a parent and all was right with the world for a few hours, when you met a stranger, smiled, talked – maybe overshared (Julie, I’m talking about you), hugged, and became lifelong friends.
Yes, I miss carefree, organic, spontaneous hospitality.
I miss hosting holidays and dinners. I miss inviting people into my home. I miss seeing people in a way that allows you to hug freely, laugh loudly, and feed generously.
So, when I was offered the opportunity to be a part of Karen Ehman’s launch team for her new book – Reach Out, Gather In, I was interested.
Karen speaks my language, you see. I’m a “gatherer.” It doesn’t matter if we are talking strangers, neighbors, friends, people I meet through interviews for the newspaper or items I collect while thrift-store shopping. I am a gatherer. My husband dreads whenever I return from a store, because I usually come home with too much, and I have someone’s life story waiting to be shared – often with him.
I’ve been blessed to meet complete strangers and quickly count them as family. They share our table often, gather in my home for holidays, mourn with us, and celebrate with us. And we have been blessed by each one of them.
Reach Out, Gather In was a delightful read – the emphasis was inward, so it really resonated with me. One area that I tend to forget is making our home welcoming for my own family. We live here, so …. it seems as though we should feel welcomed, but Karen’s gentle words reminded me to serve with love – to light a candle, to serve dinner in a more formal, loving way, and to think of the small things that my husband and children might not even notice, but that might make them feel appreciated. And I think that is what we all are searching for right now – a little comfort.
Her book is full of recipes that I can’t wait to make for my little family inside these four walls around our kitchen table. Harvest season is perfect for reconnecting and home-cooked meals. Our living space is currently full of warm autumnal colors, pumpkins, Indian corn, gourds of various varieties, and candles that smell of warm, fall days. I brought out our cozy blankets so we can snuggle up to read or work on the couch. We repainted an end table to change our entryway and we are getting our hearth ready for wood-burning fires. At her urging, we are refocusing.
Karen’s emphasis is on ministering outside, but she gives practical tips on how to reach out and “gather in” during a pandemic. When we are out grocery shopping, do we speak words of kindness and encouragement? Have we texted a friend who needs to know that we are praying for her? Can we drop off something needed at a neighbor’s home? Might we bake a meal or snack for someone who might need some generosity? Can we call someone who needs to hear another human voice?
Despite the pandemic, there are so many opportunities to “gather in.”
As the weather beings to turn here in the Midwest and we start to spend more time inside, Karen suggests that we work on preparing our homes so that, when normalcy returns, our home will be a welcoming place to gather. Inspired by her, I will continue to get rid of unnecessary belongings and keep the things that are most meaningful.
I will focus on Karen’s idea of in-the-moment-ministry. She encourages putting your full focus on others in that one moment – or several moments. I absolutely love that idea. For me, it is a reminder that, during this busy season of work, I can put work to the side, stop writing, stop editing, and spend time snuggling up with my youngest to read a story or go for a drive with a coffee with my oldest – and just be. I can focus on the cashier who is chatting about his dog. I can listen to the stories shared by friends over the phone. I can text friends with intent. I can help people realize that they are important and that they are a gift in my life.
Thank you, Karen, for so brilliantly releasing a book on hospitality during a global pandemic – to help us refocus our attitude. We don’t need to invite people into our home to show hospitality. We can show hospitality outside of our homes, in the streets, at the grocery store, and in our jobs, and we can do so in our very own homes with the people we call family.
Reach Out, Gather In.
