I’ve been reading a book for the past couple months that, as best I can describe, really feeds my soul. Its a long book, and I am in no rush to finish it. Books like that shouldn’t be whipped through and checked off.
One of the ideas I’ve absorbed from this book is the idea of hospitality–creating space where people can enter in as they are; cultivating a gentle spirit that invites others to be at rest. To be sure, much of this is intangible–the work of the Spirit in one’s heart, splashing out onto other people. Reading the Creation narrative and seeing the natural beauty around me suggests to me that much of hospitality is also touchable, see-able, create-able.
I don’t consider myself a creative or crafty person. Once in a while, however, I get a restless craving for visual beauty and mental creativity. I got hit with that tonight. (Which, in part, explains why I am blogging though I have very little to say. I just want to create something right now!)
I want to combine these threads of energy.
I dream of my apartment, my office–yes, even my clothing choices–creating an atmosphere of peace and longing. Peace that all shall be well, longings that show us we were meant for another, more beautiful place. This idea of longing for a better place reminds me of a C.S. Lewis quote from The Last Battle, which is perfect, because a quote from a classic author is such an easy way to wrap up a blog entry. 
) It comes when the children have left the Old Narnia and entered into Aslan’s world…
“It is hard to explain how this sunlit land was different from the old Narnia….The new one was a deeper country: every rock and flower and blade of grass looked as if it meant more. I can’t describe it any better than that: if you ever get there, you will know what I mean.”
