A Call for Hospitality

The hospitality business is a reflection of God’s Work in Creation.

This was never more apparent to me than when I worked overtime as a housekeeper, surrounded by coworking mothers and fathers. Instead of going home to tuck their kids in for the night, they were tucking in sheets for strangers.

Often, while wrestling with pillow cases or comforters, my managers would say to me: “I want to spend more time with my children, really I do… but they need to eat… and we do what we have to, for our families and the company.”

Each mother or father’s story was unique, but the moral was the same: Hospitality is serious business. It requires a level of sacrifice, patience, and care. Some, like the parents I worked with, have to play “homemaker” in both their personal and professional life. Many work through the weekends, because those are the busiest days for hotels.

In Genesis I, God is depicted as working for six days straight and resting on the seventh. The origin of the ‘weekend’ isn’t just part of our calendar; it’s cosmological. Rest and recuperation is an innate part of creative work.

However, it has also been said: “The Lord never stops working.”

This is because, to explain why he performed healing miracles on the day of rest, Jesus said: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” (John 5:17)

Meaning that ultimately– our capacity for caretaking is not justified by the day of the week, but by the virtue of our hearts. If we act selflessly to serve others who need our help, we are acting like (and becoming closer to) God.

In today’s industrialized world, many people embody this self-sacrificial spirit by working all day, coming home exhausted, and continually emptying their cup for those in need.

Not only workers in hospitality; but also healthcare, childcare, hospice, education, charity, and so on…

In every occupation, there are special helpers (I call them angels on earth) who show up when you least expect it: coworkers who bring up the laundry cart so you can strip the room on time; babysitters who help the kids with homework but don’t charge extra; mothers and fathers who bring their children to work on weekends.

To be this generous and conscientious is indeed to be like the ever-giving Spirit of our Creator, who made and sustains life itself.

But how do we know when to draw the line? Although made in His image, we’re still human. At some point, we need to refill our cups. A 24/7 work week might seem noble and godly at first, but if we’re not taking care of ourselves, how can we properly take care of anyone else?

We find some reconciliation here when we introduce the wisdom of Lao Tzu, who advised: “Retreat back when your work is done. This is the Way of Nature” (Tao Te Ching, verse 9).

Does this not echo the “retreat” or sabbath that God took in the book of Genesis? The wisdom here is clear: Once the work is complete, it’s good to let it be.

As strange as it might seem, I consider this whole world a cosmic hotel, wherein our souls are guests.

This concept functions at all levels, from macro to micro, physical and spiritual. Just as our houses, hotels, hospitals, and schools require cleaning and maintenance, so does our very being…

From the moment of our birth, our body becomes a home for countless bacteria, which form the housing development of our microbiome.

Throughout our lives, thoughts, feelings and beliefs make a home in the makeup of “who we are” and how we relate to the world.

And then there’s the soul… pure spiritual consciousness, temporarily housed in this mental-physical vessel. Even scientists acknowledge that we are more than physical; in fact, we’re energetic.

Thus, each body is a well-furnished room which temporarily houses a living soul. It must be tended to; cleaned and replenished, rearranged and decorated. How else could the soul shine bright enough to share its warm light with others?

To me, this world is no ordinary hotel. It’s an existential resort designed to promote the evolution (and restoration) of consciousness.

We who are of service– not just for the sake of money, but for the sake of those in need– know the true purpose of hard work. We don’t work overtime because we’ll get paid more; we work it so that we can positively influence our company, clients, and community. We work hard so we can create a better culture for all.

At first, I couldn’t believe it. After all, how could we compare God’s green earth with stained bathroom tiles or a freshly mopped floor? But that’s the thing… in this world, you get both! And the beauty is– we get to make meaning out of the mess while we clean.

Plus, no matter what we spill or how many glasses we break, there will always be angels… those who come to your aid when you least expect it, when you’re most desperate.

“Teamwork makes the dream work,” they say, and so it’s important to remember that no matter our career or occupation, we are in this life together, fashioning the human “team” (or family) on this planet.

Life on Earth is a temporary stay, a work-retreat for the growing soul. We don’t always know when we’re going to check out, but we’re called to make the most of our brief, beautiful stay by being kind and hospitable to each other– no matter our differences. For as it is written…

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)