Hospitality in Advent - The Cup of Life
The Advent Season provides numerous opportunities to share hospitality. There are so many social events, end of year catch-ups and the pressure of that final opportunity before the current year comes to a close. St John of God Bendigo Hospital Director of Mission Integration Phil Bretherton talks about the 'cup of life.'
6 Dec 2017
In a rather beautiful text by Henri Nouwen, the cup is used as a metaphor for life, a powerful image of human experience. Wherever we find ourselves, the cup is used to celebrate a wide range of human endeavours.
“In whatever country or culture we find ourselves, having a drink together is a sign of friendship, intimacy and peace…We drink to ‘break the ice’, to enter a conversation, to show good intention, to express friendship and goodwill…to be open, vulnerable, accessible.” (Nouwen 1996)
As the weeks leading up to Christmas unfold, we might take time to consider how our ‘drinking’ together can be a real opportunity to connect with others. In sharing a cuppa or providing simple hospitality we can be really present to others and create a safe place for a conversation, a sharing or a moment of gratitude and reflection.
In this Advent season, we may just have the chance to take that extra few minutes to share the ‘cup of life’ with those who come into our presence. To be a source of friendship, to be a listening ear or just to be with another on the journey of life with all of its sorrows and joys. Above all however, we too can be a source of hope in this season of expectation.