A Day with the Wilsons

Hospitality is definitely a lifestyle.
Yesterday I had a itinerary meeting on New York (less than two weeks!) followed by a breakfast get together with the Kemmons Wilson Family.
The Kemmons Wilson Family funds my largest scholarship. Five guys and myself are the lucky recipients of these funds, but the money isn't the greatest part. Don't get me wrong, it really helps! We get personal time with our director of the school to ensure we stay on track and such, plus we meet with the family once or twice a school year, which is NEVER a disappointing experience. They are such a wonderful and character-filled family. If I were to ever go down the path of raising a family of my own, theirs would definitely be a model. They are so involved in our community, and the scholars as well. They are even paying for our New York trip to the international hotel convention. For such important people, they are so down to earth. Their lives are case in point of excellent leaders, genuine Christians, and pure hospitality. It isn't just their business, it is who they are.
It has made me realize that my job is a lot about who I am and that most of my day to day activities are NOT listed on my job specifications.
I just checked-in a man who is moving out of Memphis to New Orleans, without a job to go to. I am NOT a risk taker, so I was interested to say the least. He has been here for ten years and the first thing he said was, I don't have any friends. I almost cried. Seriously. If you had seen his face, his mannerisms, the way he came in and spoke- you would have, too. No friends? Really? And he didn't like his job. He has been doing that job for TEN YEARS! What took so long? He said, "The years just go by. You make good money and you feel like you can't leave."
You feel like you can't leave.
Would I stay at a job I hated for ten years even if I hated it? The way I have been acting lately, ensuring job security and what not, probably.
He went on to say, "I have been going to the same church this whole time and I know people there, but I don't have any friends. At least in New Orleans, I have family to keep me company."
He must really be committed to that congregation or the pews must be extra comfy. If I were to end up back in church, and stick with it for ten years, I would have to be with passionate people who sought out sowing friendships. It breaks my heart. Part of me wants to say, what cold-hearted people. But, like he said, you get comfortable with your friends. Bringing new people in displaces that comfort. I guess that is what Jesus is for, comfort. Answer your comforting prayers so you don't get laid off from your comfortable job so you can keep your humble abode in the suburbs.
He left me with a pamphlet on Jesus.
That man has had such an awful experience in the church, yet he still took the time to write his own pamphlet and gives it to some random front desk person. It was all he brought in to check-in. He had a goal to share with someone. No fear at all. What a strong person. He is a Christian everywhere he goes. Not just at church and then a worker at his desk job and then a father at home.
Hospitality is like that, too.
The Wilsons are on-call Christians and Hospitality leaders, 24/7. Things like that move you. They should. We get comfortable easily and things like that shake us, and they should.
Christianity is a movement of hospitality.
An incredible tool that can shake the world through the simplest means.