Originally posted on December 21, 2007 as The Ridiculous Hospitality of Advent. The main change I made was to change ‘starry-eyed’ to ‘clear-eyed’ in the sentence below. That reflects a growing emphasis on clarity of vision and purpose in my own life. Hope you enjoy this rewarmed leftover, like the best part of Thanksgiving: the turkey sandwich…
Advent is a time of clear-eyed wonder at the magnificence of the human’s ability to reach beyond, to open to hope.
When a stranger appears at your door,
feed him for three days
before asking who he is,
where he’s come from,
where he’s headed.
That way, he’ll have strength
enough to answer.
Or, by then you’ll be
such good friends
you don’t care.
These words by Arab-American poet Naomi Shihib Nye have echoed in my heart since I read them on Spiritual Zest. Naomi Shihib Nye’s poetry often reminds me of 13th century Persian poet and Sufi mystic Rumi in their mutual absolute call to breaking down the barriers to love.
What if… the real message of the Messiah is: that living inhospitably, disconnected from the earth and her plants and animals, seasons and of course from each other–will never bring us joy?
What if… the Stranger that walks with us and around us in the Grocery Outlet and pumps our gasoline at the ARCO is here to teach us that the importance we place on ‘us’ versus ‘other’ is outdated and worse, dooming us to live in inhospitable abject poverty of spirit?
What if… the once and future Messiah’s message about reconciliation and redemption is this: only in close and vibrant and sometimes difficult connection can we find the ‘raw edges’ in ourselves that are ripe for transforming our individual and cultural depression and anxiety into joy and peace?
What if…we walked carefully from Solstice where the physical darkness and light are changing balance to Advent where we acknowledge that the hospitable Light is born anew–not outside of us, but in us and through us?
What if…the only Stranger we meet during this season of the changing of the light, is the impoverished One inside of us that wants to isolate and protect itself and what it thinks it owns or knows? And that in this meeting, we recognize our selves and the Stranger no longer has that Name?
What if…we invited that sweet, shy, convoluted Stranger that resides in each of us to tea today and laughed and joked and gently prodded him/her into admitting that it would much prefer to be outside of the virtual prison walls of isolation and fear, ‘mixing it up’?
3 days of caring for the Stranger in this way…
…”feed him for three days
before asking who he is,
where he’s come from,
where he’s headed.
That way, he’ll have strength
enough to answer.
Or, by then you’ll be
such good friends
you don’t care.”
By the end of 3 days of this kind of ridiculously hospitable behavior we, like Rumi, will be dancing in the streets as Advent dawns. No bother that our hearts know that our new Friend will cyclically be shut out and will become the Stranger again.
Let’s dance here, in this hospitable moment.
Advent is the time of clear-eyed wonder at the magnificence of the human’s ability to reach beyond, to open to hope.
![clip_image002[4]](http://virtualteahouse.com/blogs/beth/WindowsLiveWriter/trees_13E92/clip_image002%5B4%5D.gif)
Beth, VTH Host
Posted as submission to the Advent Synchroblog. Here are the group’s submissions:
- John C. O’Keefe – The Season of Adventure
- George at The Love Revolution – The Weak Ghosts of Advent
- Peter at Emerging Christian – Expanding Our Experience of the Advent Journey
- Beth at Beth Stedman.com – Experiencing Advent With A Toddler
- Alan at The Assembling Of The Church – Walking Through Advent Today
- Steve at Emergent Kiwi – Am I Traveling Well?
- Wendy at View From The Bridge – Yearning For a Lived Theology
- Annie at Marginal Theology – Limping Along
- Christen at Greener Grass – Advent – Expecting and Un-Expecting
- Jeff at My Adventures – Journeys and Destinations
- kathy at carnival in my head – making room for the unexpected
- Sonja at Calacirian – Road To Nowhere
- Steve at Khanya – Advent Synchroblog
- Beth at The Virtual Teahouse – Clear-Eyed Gaze of a Stranger
- Phil at Square No More – O Antiphon #1 – This is the first of nine antiphones. Please check Phil’s blog Square No More regularly for additional updates with the additional 8 antiphones.
- Peggy at Abisomeone – Wandering With The Waiting Abbess
- Cathryn at Love Fiercely – An Advent Prayer
- HeySonnie at A Piece of My Mind – Christmas WILL Happen
- Liz at Grace Rules – Advent – A Journey of Awakening
[...] beth patterson – clear-eyed gaze of the stranger [...]
[...] Beth at The Virtual Teahouse – Clear-Eyed Gaze of a Stranger [...]
[...] Beth at The Virtual Teahouse – Clear-Eyed Gaze of a Stranger [...]
Your words hit home Beth. So true….what if? I am thinking similiar thoughts these days. It is a time of year to reflect on the bigger picture. It is also a difficult time for so many people.Hope all is well. Hugs, G
http://www.mypoeticpath.wordpress.com
http://www.veggiesyarnsandtails.wordpress.com
Beth,
I’d love to connect with you personally in the near future. After a number of recommendations that we meet from various friends (David Santangelo, Lisa Hendrick, and a few others), it seems that making the personal connection would be good. We’d have a lot to think about I think… especially our backgrounds in Christianity and where we have taken our spirituality since.
I’m doing a bit with men’s work lately and acting as the director of Community at Mandala Yoga Community. Doing what I can to support community and spiritual growth and would love to connect with those who are doing similarly… like you!
Send me an email and maybe we can meet?
Blessings,
Nate
[...] Beth at The Virtual Teahouse – Clear-Eyed Gaze of a Stranger [...]
[...] Beth at The Virtual Teahouse – Clear-Eyed Gaze of a Stranger [...]
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Thanks, Nate!
Yes, we have friends who are trying to get us in the same place…
So I will email you! Thanks so much for connecting…
Beth
Beth – I love reading your thoughts. Your what if’s are wonderful insights – you are truly gifted. Thank you so much for participating in the synchroblog. I am always blessed by what you write. I particularly felt a stirring when I read “What if…we walked carefully from Solstice where the physical darkness and light are changing balance to Advent where we acknowledge that the hospitable Light is born anew–not outside of us, but in us and through us?” as I have been recently led to contemplate the divinity within.
[...] Beth at The Virtual Teahouse – Clear-Eyed Gaze of a Stranger [...]
Dear Liz–
Your kindness always humbles me. Thank you!
The contemplation of intrinsic divinity is a profound meditation. I hope it illuminates your holidays!
Thanks again–and thank you for your great post as well.
[...] Beth at The Virtual Teahouse – Clear-Eyed Gaze of a Stranger [...]
[...] Beth at The Virtual Teahouse – Clear-Eyed Gaze of a Stranger [...]
[...] beth patterson – clear-eyed gaze of the stranger [...]
beth this is why i like synchroblogging, so many wonderful perspectives and textures. i love what you shared. in terms of embracing the stranger inside of us, it reminded me of what dan allender says about pain–treat it like a friend, welcome it in, to sit at the table and be part instead of slamming the door on it’s face. thanks for the beauty!
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beth this is why i like synchroblogging, so many wonderful perspectives and textures. i love what you shared. in terms of embracing the stranger inside of us, it reminded me of what dan allender says about pain–treat it like a friend, welcome it in, to sit at the table and be part instead of slamming the door on it’s face. thanks for the beauty!
Dear Liz– Your kindness always humbles me. Thank you! The contemplation of intrinsic divinity is a profound meditation. I hope it illuminates your holidays! Thanks again–and thank you for your great post as well.