Growing up in the church, it was easy to fall into the trap of thinking that I wouldn’t be a whole person until I had a family of my own. In talking with other singles, I’ve learned that this thinking is not uncommon. Most pastors and parishioners are married, and many don’t experience being single past their early 20s. Church programs and illustrations often feel focused on children and families, without much that speaks to the uncoupled among us.
Yet this is not shame, but an invitation. As a single woman, I began learning to practice hospitality on myself. I would pull out an attractive plate and a cloth napkin to set my solo table. Then I would cook something worthy of serving to someone else. Caring for myself changed the way I thought about hospitality: It was no longer something that only other people should have.
Self-hospitality is the foundation of our call to welcome others to the table.
This message is excerpted from “Single-minded hospitality” by Cara Strickland in the October 2020 Gather magazine.
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