Philosophy of Hospitality
Oxford Dictionary definition of hospitality: "the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors or strangers."
Here at River's Edge we delight in creating welcoming spaces for our guests because we understand that the hospitality we desire to provide is both significant and intentional.
Our foundation of hospitality comes from the very character of God. In particular, it is the life of Jesus that influences us. How he participated in and radically redefined the hospitality culture of his day and age.* In Mediterranean life of the first century, to welcome a guest or stranger into your home was to welcome them into your life. If you were to open your doors to a stranger, it implied that you desired friendship; to the point of protecting them and providing for their needs. It was a really big deal.
For the historical Jesus, being hospitality was all about not only being a good host, it was also about being a good guest - shown over and over again by his abundant joy in celebrating with others; at weddings, outdoor meals, and festivals. Not only providing great gifts of food and drink, but also providing sacrificial service.
A motto of Jesus' could have been - "to share a meal is to share your life." In society today we know that eating and drinking together is a very significant way to form group identity and create a sense of belonging. Jesus had a way of taking an ordinary, everyday experience, such as sharing a meal, and making it a ‘divine' moment to experience his grace and love.
Here at River's Edge we would like to welcome you to our beautiful property and into our 300 acre ‘home'! May you experience the love of God throughout your time here; whether riding a horse, climbing a wall, sitting around a camp fire or yes, even sharing a meal. May the ordinary become extraordinary. May this truly be a ‘natural setting for a supernatural experience!"
*If you would like to read more about Jesus' hospitality themes, particularly focusing on the gospel of John, please follow this link to the introductory chapter of our Hospitality Team Leader's MA research dissertation, "Conversion flowers from Communion."
