Spiritual Hospitality: the art of listening

Henry Nouwen has written that “Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends” In my previous work as a chaplain, I spent much of my time learning to listen. A metaphor that helped me to grow in my skillfulness for listening, was to imagine that we are a bit like houses when it comes to our spirituality. We have many rooms and we are forever adding on and remodeling as we go along. Some rooms are like the living room- formal but generally open to visitors. Other rooms are like the kitchen- warm and intimate but mostly reserved for family, friends and the occasional repairman. And then there are the inner sanctuaries of the soul where only a few may go. Of all the rooms in a person’s soul, the most important thing to remember is that it all starts with the front porch.

If you wish to journey with another, you have to first make it past the front porch. The front porch of the soul is the place of cordiality and politeness. It is the space of initial welcome. And as a chaplain or as a congregation, getting this part right, determines whether or not an interaction will result in an invitation to venture over the threshold, or be but a passing of niceties between two forever strangers. Our denomination has done well in welcoming folx to the front porches, the living rooms and even a few kitchens here and there. What we have not yet done, is welcome queer, black and brown folx as the ones who have the ability to unlock doors, demolish the condemnable rooms of oppression and lead us over new thresholds that set us all free. We need a sanctuary for our faith that is yet unbuilt. And for that, we need new, better and more truthful stories.

This fall, we are launching several new initiatives designed to increase our capacity and ability to foster welcome. Here is a peak at what to expect:

Our new Starting Point series invites those desiring to explore spirituality as key to a meaning-filled life to partake in a three part series facilitated by our small group leaders. Newcomers to our community as well as long term members who find themselves at a new place in their spiritual journey are invited to join us. Sessions will be held Sundays following worship. See our newsletter for specific dates and times.

Our anti-racism task force will be exploring in concrete ways how to engage with the work of diversity, equity and inclusion. The task force will offer opportunities for dialogue, education and engagement with our UU values of justice and love as we seek to journey toward spiritual wholeness.