The door to our townhouse needs painting. I would like to do something fun, welcoming and inviting. The doors of Dublin will serve as my inspiration.
Have you ever seen the doors of Dublin? On a visit to Ireland with my daughters a number of years ago we saw them. They are truly amazing. Dozens of, otherwise boring, brick brownstone houses have their front doors painted brilliant, high-gloss colors.
Walking along those streets I saw a story behind each colorful door. Shiny brass hardware, softly lit windows, palladium windows, fresh white trim paint, planters and small front gardens beckoned. Rosemary bushes in planters infused an savory, astringent scent. Giant hydrangeas bloomed in shocking pink and blue. Climbing roses lingered on the brick facade.
The doors serve as a symbol of Irish hospitality which is exceptional. Everywhere we went people opened their homes to us. We experienced Irish hospitality first hand. This included, of course, freshly baked Irish brown bread. It is a quick bread that doesn’t use yeast. But it is warm and delicious, especially topped with local butter.
Painting a door a fun, bright color is inviting, it is welcoming and it is all about hospitality. Like Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18:1-8, we are wired to connect, to invite, to welcome others in. Our culture is extremely xenophobic – meaning we have great fear of strangers. In fact we even call strangers “aliens” as if they are from another planet!
However, for other cultures and for Christians, it’s about hospitality. For an excellent film about hospitality, I recommend the movie Babette’s Feast. I will share much more about Babette’s Feast in another post.
Afterall, as with Abraham and Sarah, strangers are God in disguise. Mary and Joseph seeking a place to rest. God comes to us in the stranger. In connecting with those who are not like us we become more of who we are meant to be. We develop our personhood. We are not called to be individuals – but persons. God lives in each of us. All is a gift from God. Therefore, what we have is also theirs. Turn it inside out. Invite others in!
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