On The Way

Today’s practice is hospitality—an act that isn’t just reserved for holidays, special occasions, or business interactions. Hospitality is a state of the heart, and today we hear from two workers who have learned to both show and receive hospitality as they live life with others on the way. 

Today we’re talking about welcoming. Jesus walked with all sorts of people on the way, showing welcome to outcasts rejected by society. And he welcomed people into relationship. Today we’ll meet a couple that shares with us how they’ve learned to both welcome others and receive welcome.

We’re looking at both sides of a conversation today. The practice of dialogue is about both speaking and listening. It’s a mutual experience, and requires each side to both share and receive. We’ll meet someone who grew up living abroad, and talk about the opportunities that dialogue can bring. 

Today’s practice is listening, which can be especially important when communicating with someone who may have different views—to truly listen to what they’re saying and not project our own ideas onto them. We’re talking with two workers who have been living and working in Asia for 10 years. 

Today we are talking about the practice of presence. Often it’s hard to feel like we’re present in the current moment, or really with the people around us. But presence matters! Both to our own peace of mind and especially in building relationships with others, as we’ll hear from two workers who put presence into practice.

Today we’re talking about the next step after noticing: the practice of naming. We’ll meet a cross-cultural worker who is a natural at forming intentional relationships. When she moved to Asia, she immersed herself in the hospitality culture of her host country, and found herself feeling at home. She’ll share some ways she’s learned to build relationships over the last several years.

In this first episode, we’re starting at the very beginning of any relationship: noticing. You can’t start a conversation with someone new until you notice them first. We talk with two cross-cultural workers about what it means to notice others in their work, and how they see the humanity in people while living in community.