Sowing Seeds: A tale of hospitality

Published 7:17 am Thursday, August 6, 2015

By Larry Davies

Mell (my wife) and I were attending a conference at a large hotel. The session ended early so we wandered through the lobby looking for a restaurant. At the entrance of one restaurant, the greeter said: “We’re closed now but should be open in 30 minutes.”

“We were hoping to eat an early lunch.” I replied.

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“I’m sorry. However, another restaurant in this hotel is serving lunch now. Let me show you where it is.”

Immediately, she left her workstation and walked with us down to the other end of the hotel until we came in sight of a sandwich shop. She pointed to the restaurant, smiled and said, “I hope you enjoy your meal.”

Why am I telling this story? Well, we were soon to experience another kind of restaurant and it wasn’t pleasant.

The sandwich shop was quiet and empty. We saw only one employee at the other end of the restaurant. I walked over and asked: “Where do we go to order lunch?”

He arrogantly pointed to the counter across the room. “Stand in line over there.” Then he turned back around continuing his attention to the big screen TV. There was no one “over there” so I assume he meant, “stand in line over there until I’m through playing with the TV, then I might wait on you.”

There were so many snide remarks, I could have said but instead we quietly walked across the room, out the door and back down the corridor toward the first restaurant. Why?

A) We didn’t like the station he chose on TV.

B) Sandwiches just aren’t for me.

C) The wallpaper colors clashed with our clothes.

D) We were willing to wait so we could enjoy eating in the other restaurant.

In the story of two restaurants I discovered lessons about the importance of hospitality whether you are in a restaurant or at a church.  But the best part of the story is yet to come.

The hostess at the first restaurant recognized us immediately and greeted us by name like old friends. Then, she seated us with the reminder: if we needed anything to let her know.

The waitress came by carrying a tray full of water glasses. Somehow, she tripped and the whole tray, water and all crashed, soaking everything on the table but somehow missing us. She let out a loud gasp and there was a short, silent pause but then the restaurant staff sprang into action. While the waitress profusely apologized, one employee removed the mess and wiped everything down. Another swooped in with a fresh tablecloth and within seconds we were back in our seats as if nothing happened.

For the rest of the week, we ate all of our meals there and told others at the conference about the good food and extraordinary service of this restaurant. Often we waited in line to receive a seat, but we never complained because the experience was usually worth the wait.

The parable of the two restaurants illustrates the difference it makes when you are warmly welcomed and feel appreciated. The secret is to understand what someone needs and then try to exceed expectations.

Our churches have the same opportunity by offering a warm welcome and a genuine interest in those who enter, those who live nearby and anyone else we come in contact with in our community. In other words, we work to understand people’s needs and through our best efforts combined with God’s grace strive to exceed expectations. The last thing Jesus said to his disciples was, “go and make disciples of all the nations.” (Matthew 28:19) We are given a challenge to offer “hospitality” through the power of God.