Romans 12:12-13 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
It’s not a stretch to take care of our friends when they fall on hard times. “Tell me what you need,” we say to the neighbor who’s recovering from surgery. “I’ll be happy to give you a ride,” we tell the colleague whose car broke down on the way to work. But strangers? Who are they, anyway?
“Come with me,” the woman said. “I’ll show you where it is.” I’d been riding the new Q Line in Detroit just for the fun of it, and she was filling me in on the history of the area. “You have to see the river,” she told me and offered to walk part of the way there.
Twice in that day, I had been a stranger in need of directions. Only an hour before, an elderly docent at the art museum had led me outside and down to the end of the block, just so she could show me where to catch the streetcar.
I was the stranger.
MOVING FORWARD: When was the last time you were a stranger? Who showed you hospitality?
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