November 30, 2005

[Rev. Doc]

Welcome Them And Share

"Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
Romans 12:13

Henri Nouwen, the great spiritual writer was going to a monastery for a
retreat. The monks observed vows of silence and the retreat was to be
meditative and prayerful. Nouwen was delayed and was late getting to the
monastery on that miserable, rainy night. He rang the bell, well after
bedtime, and was met at the door by one of the brothers. The brother warmly greeted him, took his wet coat, brought him to the kitchen and made him a cup of tea. They chatted in the late night hours and Nouwen began to relax and feel ready for the retreat. But he knew this monk was supposed to observe silence, so he finally asked him, "Why are you willing to sit and talk with me?" The monk replied "Of all the duties of the Christian faith and the rules of my order, none is higher than hospitality."

Prayer: Ask God to help you share with others from all areas of your life.

"No matter how little you have, you can always give some of it away."
~Catherine Marshall