If anyone needs an easy, inspiring book to read, I've got one for you!
Strangers at my Door by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove.
Strangers at my Door by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove.
Strangers at my Door is a compilation of stories about this man and wife's journey of opening a hospitality house in a poverty stricken, crime infested neighborhood in Durham, North Carolina. Their motivation is to find Jesus in the stranger at their door. They invite people in to eat, to talk, to question, and even to stay and live. They function as a diverse family with responsibilities, fellowship, prayer, and struggles. Drug addictions, criminal activity, abuse, prostitution, homelessness are just some of the realities they face. The stories show us that it isn't always easy to find Jesus in the stranger at the door, but in the end, it is always worth it.
This book really tugged on my heart strings. It opened my eyes to issues I had never seen or heard of before. It broke my heart to read of the struggles that they face. It uplifted me in unexpected ways.
This book really tugged on my heart strings. It opened my eyes to issues I had never seen or heard of before. It broke my heart to read of the struggles that they face. It uplifted me in unexpected ways.
I'll share a few of my favorite quotes from the book, but don't let that take the place of actually reading it as a whole. I'm confident that it will be a blessing in your life to read about this hospitality house.
"To leave the door locked--to close ourselves off from another person in fear--is to reduce our capacity to connect, to love, to be fully human."
"Welcome everything, and you'll witness miracles."
Even in the most dirty and intimidating situations, miracles can happen.
"Is it safe? No. But companionship never is. It is drawing close to another person despite our fears. It is an embrace that comes int he midst of conflict, pushing us deep together, not further apart. It is, at its best, a glimpse of glory. But it's never safe."
I feel like this quote rings true for a lot of us. Maybe it's when we see a homeless person on the corner or when we meet a person who was just recently released from prison. Perhaps its when we're looking for neighborhoods to live in. I think this is a great perspective to have, because it's true...companionship (any kind) is never safe since we are imperfect beings. There is always a risk of being hurt by anyone, no matter their circumstances.
"But the dividing line between good and evil does not run between those who've been to prison and those who haven't. It cuts through the center of every soul."
"Those couple of hours int he library each week--they were the only time when I was locked up (in prison) that I felt like a human being."
"To leave the door locked--to close ourselves off from another person in fear--is to reduce our capacity to connect, to love, to be fully human."
"Welcome everything, and you'll witness miracles."
Even in the most dirty and intimidating situations, miracles can happen.
"Is it safe? No. But companionship never is. It is drawing close to another person despite our fears. It is an embrace that comes int he midst of conflict, pushing us deep together, not further apart. It is, at its best, a glimpse of glory. But it's never safe."
I feel like this quote rings true for a lot of us. Maybe it's when we see a homeless person on the corner or when we meet a person who was just recently released from prison. Perhaps its when we're looking for neighborhoods to live in. I think this is a great perspective to have, because it's true...companionship (any kind) is never safe since we are imperfect beings. There is always a risk of being hurt by anyone, no matter their circumstances.
"But the dividing line between good and evil does not run between those who've been to prison and those who haven't. It cuts through the center of every soul."
"Those couple of hours int he library each week--they were the only time when I was locked up (in prison) that I felt like a human being."
Because behind the homelessness, the addiction, the abuse, there is a heart.
A heart that was created in the image of God.
A heart that is loved by God.
A heart that longs to be loved and accepted by others.
A heart that longs to be loved and accepted by others.
We can't ignore that truth, but we should embrace it.
No one is too far from redemption with God's immense grace.
Finding Jesus in the stranger, can give us all the strength we need to love them past their mistakes.
I wish I enjoyed reading because this sounds good. But i just cat get into reading no matter how much i try :(
ReplyDeleteWell who knows, maybe later on?! I used to hate reading, but now I love it :) Or maybe there is an audio version?!
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