day 5 - a healing welcome
I love words. And I also am rather fascinated by history. So you can imagine my delight when I learn something about the history of words which I didnt know before.
Earlier this year I was watching Time Team ( secret vice of mine) and they were excavating a monastery somewhere or other. In the process they discovered some bones and it became apparent that the monastery had been used as a hospital at some point in its history. As I was listening I heard someone explaining that before medical science became a thing, and before there was such a thing as a doctor or a hospital, monks used to provide care to local people and those travelling on pilgrimage. They not only offered accommodation and food to people who were on long journeys on foot or horseback ( no Travel Lodge in those days!) but they would tend to minor injuries, blisters, sore feet, cuts and bruises, fatigue etc. They only had very rudimentary natural medicines and little instruction but they gained experience over the years and were welcoming and kind. The monsteries offered hospitality freely and to all.
The English word ' hospital' comes directly from the word ' hospitality'.
I didnt know that.
You probably did. But it was news to me and it immediately got me thinking. Firstly I thought that hospitality is healing. When we welcome someone into our home and feed them and care about them, even if only for a short time, we are doing something healing. I love that idea. I love the thought that the people who are weary from walking, might find a place to rest, to be nourished, to talk and listen, to fellowship and receive care for their bruises and wounds in the heart of God through His people, the church.
The other thing which came to me was the thought that hospitals should be a place of welcome and comfort and peace, not just places for physical healing. Obviously in these days of austerity and budgets and strikes and waiting lists it is almost impossible to conceive of a health service which is anything other than a business place for medicine. But wouldnt it be great if hospitals could once again be shelter for the weary, comfort for the hopeless, peace for the troubled and company for the lonely? I think of the silent work of many chaplains, volunteers, befrienders and health workers who take it upon themselves to bring some of this to patients in hospital. As our mental health crisis deepens I wonder if the church might not once again become the ' community hospital' it was centuries ago.
I know some very hospitable people. Hospitality is definitely a gift ( Romans 12) and whilst we can all be kind and nice there are some folks who definitely just have an ability to extend a special welcome, put people at ease, share themselves graciously and for whom nothing is too much bother. In my experience these people often dont see that they have a gift of hospitality. But they come alive when they are looking after people, making their homes lovely, and welcoming in the stranger and the neighbour.
At Christmas we think about the fact that there was no room at the inn. We ponder the world which didnt recognise the light in Jesus and which ultimately rejected and crucified Him. And we are thankful that despite our own selfishness and blindness Jesus still extends a welcome to us which brings us complete healing and makes us whole. His open arms and heart are all the wholeness, health and strength we need. Our open arms and hearts are the wholeness, health and strength the world needs right now. Let's resolve to be more hospitable this Christmas
Earlier this year I was watching Time Team ( secret vice of mine) and they were excavating a monastery somewhere or other. In the process they discovered some bones and it became apparent that the monastery had been used as a hospital at some point in its history. As I was listening I heard someone explaining that before medical science became a thing, and before there was such a thing as a doctor or a hospital, monks used to provide care to local people and those travelling on pilgrimage. They not only offered accommodation and food to people who were on long journeys on foot or horseback ( no Travel Lodge in those days!) but they would tend to minor injuries, blisters, sore feet, cuts and bruises, fatigue etc. They only had very rudimentary natural medicines and little instruction but they gained experience over the years and were welcoming and kind. The monsteries offered hospitality freely and to all.
The English word ' hospital' comes directly from the word ' hospitality'.
I didnt know that.
You probably did. But it was news to me and it immediately got me thinking. Firstly I thought that hospitality is healing. When we welcome someone into our home and feed them and care about them, even if only for a short time, we are doing something healing. I love that idea. I love the thought that the people who are weary from walking, might find a place to rest, to be nourished, to talk and listen, to fellowship and receive care for their bruises and wounds in the heart of God through His people, the church.The other thing which came to me was the thought that hospitals should be a place of welcome and comfort and peace, not just places for physical healing. Obviously in these days of austerity and budgets and strikes and waiting lists it is almost impossible to conceive of a health service which is anything other than a business place for medicine. But wouldnt it be great if hospitals could once again be shelter for the weary, comfort for the hopeless, peace for the troubled and company for the lonely? I think of the silent work of many chaplains, volunteers, befrienders and health workers who take it upon themselves to bring some of this to patients in hospital. As our mental health crisis deepens I wonder if the church might not once again become the ' community hospital' it was centuries ago.
I know some very hospitable people. Hospitality is definitely a gift ( Romans 12) and whilst we can all be kind and nice there are some folks who definitely just have an ability to extend a special welcome, put people at ease, share themselves graciously and for whom nothing is too much bother. In my experience these people often dont see that they have a gift of hospitality. But they come alive when they are looking after people, making their homes lovely, and welcoming in the stranger and the neighbour.
At Christmas we think about the fact that there was no room at the inn. We ponder the world which didnt recognise the light in Jesus and which ultimately rejected and crucified Him. And we are thankful that despite our own selfishness and blindness Jesus still extends a welcome to us which brings us complete healing and makes us whole. His open arms and heart are all the wholeness, health and strength we need. Our open arms and hearts are the wholeness, health and strength the world needs right now. Let's resolve to be more hospitable this Christmas
Comments
Post a Comment