Americans are more isolated than ever before.  We spend more time by ourselves and have fewer and fewer guests into our homes.  I was at a friend’s house recently and asked him about his neighbors.   He said he really didn’t know them despite living next to them for the past five years.

I am here to tell you that your life and that of your family will be greatly enriched if you choose to adopt a life of hospitality and be that “hangout” house.  Here’s why…

You’re Busy

Wait…this was going to be your first argument against why you can’t, wasn’t it?  The truth is it can be really hard to find space in your day to meet people at any location.  So why not bring the party to you?  You won’t have to find a sitter, you’ll be able to move that load of laundry over when you need to, and you can solve that “I should talk to that person more often,” problem at the same time.

It’s Easier Than You Think

Here’s the thing: hosting isn’t really that hard (my wife is smiling right now.)  People want to feel welcome and that’s really about it (a beverage and snack is a nice add-on.)  We can let “great” (our desire to present a home straight out of Southern Living) get in the way of “better” (focusing more on people than the condition of the home.)  Just hand your adult guests an adult beverage, coffee, or healthy drink if that is their thing, and give the kids a juice box and an opportunity to run around. That’s really all there is to it.  You can do this.

You’ll Know More

If you’ve got an open door policy, you’ll have your finger on the pulse of your wider community.  The more you interact with your neighbors, your kid’s parents, local leaders…etc., the more you are in the know.  And the more you’re in the know, the more you know what is really true and what is false.  This will help keep you from making hasty decisions, or judging someone or something in haste and being sorry later.

Hospitality is a Form of Ministry

Your house should be a safe place for adults and kids alike to let their guard down and be themselves.  This is especially important if you have kids in school.  My guess is that if you were to describe the parents you appreciated the most when you were in high school, they probably had a home like this.  And you know what; this is what everyone really wants.  Maybe your home can be that home as well.  Scripture says, “show hospitality to one another.”

It’s Fun

All work and no play makes [insert your name] a dull boy, as the old proverb goes.  This proverb is based on the principle that without taking some time off of work, a person becomes bored and boring.  Isn’t it easy to let too much time slip by without doing something fun?  We tell ourselves that, in order to have guests (i.e. to have some fun), we have to get the house perfectly clean, or plan a fabulous menu, or schedule things way ahead of time.  Sounds like a lot of work right?  That is the wrong mindset.  Some of the best times I’ve had with guests in my home were last minute, “just come over and we’ll figure the rest out when you get here” moments.  We just did this over Labor Day weekend, and guess what? We had a lot of fun – a drink, a bonfire, s’mores and tons of laughter.  Sounds fun, right?

The recent disaster in Texas should remind us how important communities are, as we’ve watched person after person step up to help.  We can cultivate that spirit of caring and connection in our own homes when we invite people in and share our lives with one another.  So don’t wait. Try being the hangout house for a while, and see what comes of it.  You may surprise yourself!

Final Reminder,

Your opportunity to purchase a Made to Thrive t-shirt and help a struggling Veteran get back on their feet, ends on Monday, September 11^th.  Would you please consider helping today? Click here…

Your Virtual Life Mentor,

Doug