Crackle & Flourish
Priya Parker in “The Art of Gathering”:
“Gatherings crackle and flourish when real thought goes into them...when the host has a curiosity, willingness, and generosity of spirit to try.”
As many faith community leaders work in overdrive this week to host Christmas experiences that are contactless, safe, meaningful, joy-filled and focused on God’s love coming to live among us, I’m pondering this quote from Priya Parker.
One thing I can thank COVID for is the shake-up of so many well-established routines. As much as I long to return to most of the routines in my life, some of them were neither useful nor edifying nor productive. Some routines did not align with my values and priorities, and I was trapped by them because they were well-ingrained.
Not anymore.
We do not need to meet in person as much as we thought. We can save in person meetings for when it is truly useful.
We do not need to drive as far to show up and check a box. We can save our fossil fuel use for when it really matters.
Gatherings crackle and flourish … when the host has a generosity of spirit to try things. To try new ways of being together. To try new ways of running a meeting. To try new ways of connecting with others, To try new ways of experiencing fellowship.
I am definitely trying new things. (Zoom family holidays? Thanksgiving dinner outside on the deck? Driveway present exchange on Christmas morning?)
COVID gives some of us the permission we needed to downsize our Christmas insanity. Or to stay home for the holiday. To try new expressions for this wonderful season.
Today, I commit to understanding the trying-of-new-things as a generosity of spirit expression. As a way to generously love other people and the beautiful world we share.
Generously pouring it out without grousing about other years, the usual gatherings and fun.
Generously pouring it out like a fragrant offering to be shared, enjoyed, celebrated. (See John 12 for a reference point…. expensive, exotic spikenard ointment being lavished on Jesus by a woman who refuses to let the naysayers ruin the generosity of spirit she expresses.)
My best example of being on the receiving end of such generosity of spirit happened three years ago. A group of church people gathered at Stewart & Doug’s home for a lovely dinner before doing some work for an upcoming international convention. I brought the salad and prepped it in a bowl in their kitchen. That’s the last thing I remember before my stomach flipped and I spent the next hour in the half bath adjacencies to their kitchen. I was so sick. It was awful. Embarrassing. They graciously, generously ushered me upstairs to the guest room and bath, where I spent the night in great comfort. They brought me water and fresh towels and checked on me. I was THE WORST DINNER GUEST EVER. And their generosity of spirit was a balm.
No matter how bad of a guest 2020 might be, we can muster up our amazing inner hostess and show it the generosity of spirit that will bring some crackle and sparkle to this holiday season. Like Stewart & Doug!
How do you experience generosity of spirit from a host?
Can you top my story? Were you ever the worst guest ever?
