The Spring 2012 issue was the tenth anniversary of Conversations: A Forum for Authentic Transformation. In it the team reflected on things learned over the years from the words of the writers and the engagement and interaction of the readers. The vision of the founding editors had become a reality—a grouping of chairs representing voices from each of the six streams of Christianity, with a seventh chair reserved for the reader as an invitation to join in the conversation. The publication continued to produce thoughtful spiritual formation resources, including this issue on the theme of Hospitality, or “Welcoming the Stranger.”
In the opening pages, Tara Owens introduces the topic in a lovely essay, sharing how she was welcomed into the family by her husband’s grandfather. We also hear stories about the gift of hospitality from a solid lineup of contributors including Ruth Haley Barton, Mark Labberton, and Wil Hernandez. John Ortberg writes about how to welcome a generation of followers “back” to church, and an interview with Gary Moon follows. If the idea of welcoming others into your home makes you feel uneasy, be sure to check out Adam McHugh’s piece where he shares about the gifts introverts bring to the practice of hospitality. Since this issue was published, Father Gregory Boyle’s book, Tattoos on the Heart, reached an even wider audience. Jan Johnson interviewed Father Greg about his ministry, Homeboy Industries, in Los Angeles, that provides a deep community, a “kinship,” for former gang members on the dark corners of society.
We also hear from Cindy Bunch in her article, “Inviting Others In,” about a time in her life that she experienced the grace and blessing of God’s love through others. She writes about how her church discovered what it means to be the Body of Christ, as they practiced faithful care for a friend in need. A feature that remains is O Taste and See, a meditation on Rublev’s Icon of the Trinty, which is the cover art for this issue. Take some time to reflect on it yourself, and then read Margaret Campbell’s personal reflection that follows.
It’s hard to believe, but the baby I wrote about in the back pages of this issue is almost a teenager! Parenthood continues to stretch and expand my view of welcoming and loving others without expecting anything in return. But in God’s economy, the returns are abundant, sustaining, and life-giving.
There is such rich content in this issue, from so many wonderful teachers and writers. I hope you’ll revisit this issue time and again and learn something new about who God is inviting you to be as you put his love on display through your life. I love how Jan Peterson phrases it in her article, “The personhood we bring to others is a way of being and making space for God. The way we are, the way we live, is our precious gift to the world.” You can read more about her article and take a deeper dive into this topic of Welcoming the Stranger by visiting the Classroom.
See class here.