Hospitality―The Sacred Art: Discovering the Hidden Spiritual Power of Invitation and Welcome

by Nanette Sawyer

Learn how this ancient spiritual practice can transform your relationship with yourself, with others and with God. "The practice of deep hospitality can help us step into a more vital, vibrant embrace of this great adventure we call life―which includes our relationship with God, however you might define God.... It is an invitation to walk through life with a liberating posture of receptivity, reverence, and generosity."
―from the Introduction We may think of hospitality as merely being polite to guests, but the ancients understood the profound potential hospitality holds for building and transforming lasting relationships―for binding families together, making strangers into friends, even turning enemies into neighbors. This practical book provides you with the tools you need to cultivate the spiritual power of invitation and welcome in your life. Guided by Rev. Nanette Sawyer, you will discover the qualities of hospitality―receptivity, reverence and generosity―and how these qualities can significantly deepen your self-understanding as well as your relationships with others and with God. Drawing from sacred texts and spiritual practitioners from all faiths, this book also addresses the major stumbling blocks that prevent you from becoming truly hospitable.

Genres: Spirituality

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2007

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author of this book approaches hospitality from a One-ness theology/philosophy. There were many good observations about hospitality that I took away from this book, but I re-interpreted some of this book in light of the Bible and Christian theology, and I have to discard some portions of this book as just being not Christian. The things that I took from this book are observations which were also made in other, more orthodox, books on Christian hospitality I've read. They were made here in less Christ-centered language. This then challenges me to wonder what is the difference between the "sacred art of hospitality" as presented in this book and the hospitality to which Christ calls his church to practice? I think that the answer is really the person of Jesus Christ. This, then, is ultimately my take-away from this book: that the Christian hospitality to which I'm called is all about receiving and sharing Jesus. And as this book does explain, hospitality is not just something to do when people come over to my home or when I help someone in need...it's something I'm called to engage in every moment of my life: receiving and sharing Jesus. (Lord, I believe...Help my unbelief!)

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sawyer invites us into reverence, receptivity, generosity, gratitude, and steadfast love through stories, practices, and her own shared quiet teaching. The words are to be taken slowly, in small sections, and reflected upon, the practices to be tried, and then the practitioner is to return and take up another piece.

Useful for:
Individual and directed spiritual growth.
In-depth exploration for small groups.