Practical Hospitality, Part 1

Over the course of this month, I will share close to 100 small steps towards hospitality. It doesn't necessarily come easily. Hospitality can be uncomfortable, messy, and time-consuming, but the rewards are great. My hope is that by making minor shifts in our days (myself included) we can grow and challenge ourselves to be more hospitable in our day-to-day activities.

Note: these could be called acts of kindness, serving your community, or loving your neighbor. I believe these all fall into the category of hospitality -- I am continuing to work on reshaping my personal ideas of hospitality from a societal pressure to the much more freeing calling from God.

1. Offer you seat, on public transit, in a coffee shop, or even a park bench.

2. Talk to someone new.

3. Open your front door. 

4. Sit on your front porch.

5. Play with your kids in the front yard, or side yard, or wherever you might be more inclined to run into a neighbor.

6. Write a letter to someone you haven't talked to in too long.

7. Write a letter to someone who wouldn't expect to receive mail from you.

8. Take a walk to your local coffee shop.

9. Buy a coffee for a friend, or the person behind you.

10. Strike up a conversation with the person checking you out at the grocery store.

11. Take a walk around your neighborhood.

12. Say hello to the people you pass.

13. Ask about people's dogs (it is easier than asking questions about their kids...babysteps!)

14. Find the oldest person in the room and talk to them. 

15. Ask someone about their day and really listen to their answer. 

16. Learn the names of the people you pass regularly, from the security guards and cleaning crews at work to the local shop keepers.

17. Begin saying hello to those people by name -- practice. 

18. Hand out (nut-free) granola bars to homeless. Invite someone over for muffins in the morning, or tea in the evening - both are quick and easier than a full meal.

19. Send a paper invitation to a friend for dinner, date TBD, within a specific time frame. Commit to setting a date.

20. Contribute to a tip jar at a pizza place or restaurant with a carry out counter.

Check back each Sunday for more ways to practice hospitality.

I am joining The Nester's challenge and blogging for #31Days 

on the topic of Hospitality and Holiness. 

Here are some of my previous posts.

31 Days of Hospitality

What is Hospitality
Biblical Hospitality

Is Hospitality Holy?
How do Hospitality and Holiness Relate?

*photo from Umba