Seasons of Hospitality
On womanhood and the social rat race.
Dear friends,
We want to build close ties.
We want to put down roots.
We want to live authentically in a healthy social and familial context.
And so we work hard at hospitality and socializing. And sometimes we wear ourselves out.
Today in my inaugural post at Theology of Home, I propose an alternative for women, in particular: a seasonal or cyclical way of considering building friendship and offering hospitality. This way may be more suited to the seasonal nature of feminine energy than the rat race of always trying harder socially, one thing after another, again and again, until you’re worn out, and sometimes without many people reciprocating in return.
Read my piece here:
“Honoring the Seasons of Hospitality.”
What do you think? Am I onto something, or is this less universal (or more — men, too?) than I think?
Have you had success in honoring or adapting to your own seasons of hospitality?
Warmly,
It's good to realize that starting a group doesn't eliminate loneliness. I have not always listened to my own needs, and it has been hectic. It will be good for me to observe my times of the month. Thank you for your insight!
This was so timely for me -- I've been thinking about my own participation in a group at our church that I love being a part of that is in a season of either needing additional leadership or going somewhat dormant. *maybe I could help more* I think.... and then I remember that I'm having a baby in less than three months. The thoughts you offered in this essay help me approach that situation with no guilt. Perhaps it's someone else's time to "boom" (and it's definitely my time to stay in my house with that newborn for most of the winter!)
Also, we recently started inviting friends to our house (totally spontaneously) for dessert after evening mass (because no one with children goes to an evening mass without feeding them first--at least, we don't!). It's low pressure. It's lovely. It fits the rhythm.