Living in the Now: 6 Ideas for Simple Hospitality

There's one thing for sure about living in community with others: community happens rarely with notice.  The neighbor that pops in, the friend who hopes for a chat, or an unexpected emergency occurs.  Living together usually has no script.  I've had my share of unexpected, stressful moments.  Shockingly, it often leads to irrational resentment. 

Instead, know that moment is coming.  Make a plan to be fully present, to create space to hear the Spirit lead you in relationship with this person.  Pray as you serve.  Even a sweet sentence of blessing as your pour a drink will remind you of the God Who is now-here.

When it comes to stress-free hospitality of food, keep a few of these ideas on hand:

1. A Southern woman knows how to make a real glass of ice tea.  Master it.  Offer it often.
2. Lemonade mix is super simple and satisfying for those wild, little rascals from the neighborhood.  Make your place be the favorite hang out. Oh, and send it outside.
3. Keep a few basic mixes on hand (cookie, cake, side dishes).  You'll be more likely to share if you can whip it up quick.
4. Stash your favorite jarred sauce (mariana, pesto, white sauce), and keep pasta on hand.  I've never met a soul who would turn down a fresh meal of pasta.  You're more likely to invite someone to dinner last-minutely if you already have a plan.
5. Have a couple "go to" casserole recipes for shut-ins.  My favorites make a double batch and can be frozen ahead of time: they'll eat one, and I'll keep one.  Sending food suddenly is good for everyone.
6. Bring a tasty morsel to that meeting you kind of dread.  Cookies go a long way in lightening a heavy load.  Don't count on bringing any home.

Book Review: The Bishop of Rwanda

Buy on B&N $0.99

Easier not to read, but if you can summon the courage, the truth will gobsmack you right where you stand.  In 1994, at least 1,117,000 innocent Rwandans were murdered by their neighbors.  This account journeys the severe struggles of suffering, forgiveness, reconciliation, and the true heart of God.  Anglican Bishop John Rucyahana introduces, "It is my intention to show you this miracle--the miracle of God in Rwanda." 

This account has transformed my heart, finding the God Who is there (Rwanda) is the God Who is now here.  His heart towards those He loves is the same: a passionate Father, desiring truth, Giver of life, and Author of redemption.  

Bishop John's account begins with historical background, an overview of the events surrounding 1994, and centers strongly on reconciliation efforts.  His work was bestowed with the 2009 William Wilberforce Award.

This balance of perspective grants sharp clarity in your walk with God. 

"Rwanda as a nation sought God because it was desperate," Bishop John concludes, "and God answered because He is a loving God.  That is what is behind our healing and the power of our reconciliation, and it is available to the entire world.  The God who is healing and blessing Rwanda wants to heal and bless the entire world if it will but call upon Him."

"I fell in love with this country," Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, reflects on his numerous journeys to Rwanda, "I prayed, 'Lord, help me find out what You are blessing and help me get in on it.'  I think God is blessing Rwanda."

Follow this journey, and your mind and heart and soul will never be the same.

What's up with "being"?

The idea of "being" is based heavily on Brother Lawrence's, The Practice of the Presence of God (Download your own copy here). Being in God's presence is my breath. Your life, and my life, will be in stark contrast to one another.  If we aren't careful, we believe the lie that we should finish our check lists, race through scheduling, and run an efficient life so that at the end of the day, we can worship God.  Instead, I choose to purposefully live in the truth that living is breathing worship, a relationship with the God who is now-here. 

Brother Lawrence's fourth conversation brings such to light:

"He told me that all consists in one hearty renunciation of everything which does not lead us to God in order that we may accustom ourselves to a continual conversation with Him, with freedom and in simplicity. 

"That we need only to recognize God intimately present with us, and to address ourselves to Him every moment, that we may beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful, and for rightly performing those which we plainly see He requires of us; offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we have done. 

"That in this conversation with God we are also employed in praising, adoring, and loving Him unceasingly, for His infinite goodness and perfection... That our sanctification did not depend upon changing our works, but in doing for God's sake which commonly we do for our own...

"That the most excellent method he had found of going to God was that of doing our common business without any view of pleasing man (Galatians 1:10; Ephesians 6:5) and, (as far as we are capable) purely for the love of God."

Practically Speaking: Morning Rhythms

Confession: I'm a coffee-holic (shocking, I know). I have an espresso machine (Krupps 865), standard coffee machine, two french presses, one stove top coffee maker, instant Starbucks coffee (just in case), and can make a mean cup of drip coffee through a funnel. When camping, I'm as careful to plan my morning coffee routine as I am to pack my tent. Secretly, I scorn those who cannot man up enough to drink coffee strong and straight up black. Coffee is serious business. I've never given up coffee for Lent, and 2012 is not the year either.

All this nerdy confession points to the sweet bit of Sabbath I've found along the way. In my world, recovering from a heavy night of sleep requires a moment of numb, motionless rest first thing out of bed. If I'm not careful, I get stuck in this moment. 

In my early morning weakness, I'm learning to have my coffee machine pre-measured and raring to go in the morning. Slothing through the kitchen generally requires a mere flip of the switch, relieving the stress of decision making. Who knew that planning ahead--even laying out my favorite coffee mug--gives me a moment of relief first thing in the morning? Watching that dark drip reminds me of God's provision, how His love pours and provides and energizes. That's usually a deep enough thought to begin the day.

And, if I pair coffee and scripture, I'm more likely to begin my day with total refreshment, without sacrificing either, or adding to any stress. My mini-Sabbath is doubly refreshing and centering. What's your morning rhythm?

Living in the Now: Keeping Lent

Lenten fasting is the ultimate practice of creating space for being: deliberately making room to be with the God Who is very now-here. This is a season of being in relationship with God, rather than crossing the fine line of sacrificing a guilty pleasure to learn more about God.

My 98-year old wise mentor said we would all have our hands full for the season of Lent if we truly practiced Sabbath keeping. "Why is everyone so afraid of rest?," she asked. She's totally right.

This challenge was set before our congregation:

This Lenten season, let's consider abstaining from a source of comfort that would be a substitute for God. Let's also consider taking up the discipline of moving toward one another in community.

Both sound pretty uncomfortable. And relevant. This is my Lent to learn to blurt my opinion less often, and hear more quickly. To ask better questions of my neighbors, to make space to hear God's answers.  Practice dying to self, and to hear God's heart.

Practically Speaking: Wrestling Sunrise Doubts

This is a picture of a Smoky Mountain sunrise. Not long ago, I wouldn't have recognized such abnormality, because I most definitely am not a morning person. When my sweet husband began going to work at 5:30AM each day (the middle of the night, I'm thinking), I felt this guilty tug when I didn't hit the ground running with him. Then, I realized a few other fears:

• Will I die if I get up that early?
• What happens if I finish my to-do list? 
• How will it feel to wait three hours before little feet hit the floor?
• How early will I have to go to bed in the evening?
• What if I start inventing jobs just to be "busy"?

Bottom line: why NOT get up at 5:30AM?

Granted, I don't get up that early every day. Striving for faithfulness, not perfection. But now that I'm wrestling with these fears, I'm finding it to be very good. This weird season of having little heavy stress and wide spans of open time has revealed a lot of unsettled peace that I've needed to hash. Its good to wrestle. First thing in the morning. God is very now-here, in this very moment, even when it is so quiet I'm a little lost and wandering.

Living in the Now: Being Present

Living in the "now" is a good wrestle; tiring, molding, and satisfying. My "now" spans boundless time, days on end, carrying very little stress, and bringing constant quiet. My past, pounding to-do list has shaped me much more than I realized. At first, I thought that I had forgotten how to be fully present, how to breathe worship. On second thought, maybe I never found that heart.

For me, its tough not to live in the past; those experiences that have shaped. Its difficult to not live in the future; those possibilities that are unknown. I hide in piling on the projects, reorganizing that closet for the umpteenth time, and refining some sort of method. Right now, the "now-here" is where God has placed me. Saying this out loud is one thing, but claiming peace while speaking it has been a tough chew.

Journey with me. Let go of the habitual thinking of, "Wow, it must be nice to be YOU....". We cheapen each other's journey in this thought. Worse, we discount our own.

My prayer is to be here, now--which asks me to look full into the face of Christ, to see His passion for me, to see His heart, to trust completely. Lord, grant me the courage to be in the now-here, with fullness of heart. Teach me to abide.

Practically Pumpkin

Can I just testify that we have a widow's jar of oil in our cabinet, except it is an endless supply of pumpkin? My sweet husband bought an entire flat of pumpkin at the grocery store last year. Granted, in his favor, pumpkin is a seasonal item and one must stock up. But that was much more extreme than I intended when sending him with a list (my dad did this once with a flat of sauerkraut; trust me, I know this could be worse).

Pumpkin and curry are a great combo. There are delicious, numerous savory soups that are loaded with pumpkin. Grandma's pumpkin bread recipe is now famous in our circles, and is often a special request. While I can barely muster the idea of eating more pumpkin for Thanksgiving pie, I'm really thankful for how God has used pumpkin as a constant reminder of His presence in my kitchen.

I promise you, our supply is still brimming, even though we have put pumpkin in everything for the last 10 months. Pumpkin is our inside family joke. A super food, its been a blessing (challenge?) to find ways to use it creatively. My pumpkin journey has often reminded me of the widow's oil (2 Kings 4), as God provided for her as she paid down debt. Its just like God to use something so practical and every day to remind me that He cares about each detail of my life. Something so ordinary can abundantly remind me of God's love that is now-here, and even more abundant.

Living in the Now: Present Worship

A subtle trap tends to ensnare me. I clean to "create space" for friends to visit. I reorganize to "create space" for smooth preparations. I straighten to "create space" for downtime with God. All this labor can lead me into a future I never experience fulfilled.

There is a security in that, as my little categories have an even more defining line: family time, friends time, God time. Thank God they don't overlap, because that would be much too complicated....

Wait, did I just say that out loud?

The twist I'm learning to claim as truth: cleaning, reorganizing, and straightening are acts of worship. Instead of doing them so that I can have time to worship, I'm learning to participate as an act of worship. God is there with me as I de-calcify my espresso machine. He is there as I take out the trash. He is there as I scrub the toilet. He is very present. 

Brother Lawrence (at first resentful of his lowly kitchen position in the monastary) said, "We can do little things for God. I turn the case that is frying on the pan for love of Him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before Him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God."

Desiring a familiar, constant conversation with God, I'm praying:

O God, since you are right here in this daily moment with me, I choose to commit my ways to this task at hand. Grant, I pray, that I may continue in Your presence, and fully experience You in the now-here. Amen.