How often have you been invited to attend a gathering which you then attend, and actually aren’t welcomed? Why does this happen? Gosh, we shouldn’t be surprised if this is how we always feel because the definition of invite is quite simple and doesn’t hold within it any emotion. Invite: to request the presence or participation of, whereas the definition of welcome is worlds different. Welcome: to greet hospitably and with courtesy or cordiality // to accept with pleasure the occurrence or presence of. All that to say, at times this has been the experience for me and apparently having been invited but not welcome holds significance within me as I am one who intentionally invites and hopes to naturally ooze a genuine heart-felt welcome to all I meet or invite in.
What is the difference? How was it I knew I desired to be one who welcomes. There are many events I’ve been invited to, there are only a few times I know I was welcomed. What sets those experiences apart? In today’s day, the pace and demands we place on ourselves un-necessarily (or necessarily because of the lifestyle we choose to maintain) keeps many of the recent invitations just that, an invite. It seems some have very little, or no time to acknowledge their surroundings and or those present with breath, eye contact or a conversation. Not necessarily because they do not desire these things for themselves or others but life’s habits have them already thinking or worrying about the next commitment or to-do which is ever more real as the clock continues to tick, and the alerts continue to chime. So, at the gathering we are one person present, apparently for the benefit of ourselves, which invariably does happen, so we remain encouraged. Or maybe we are attending an event to participate in something which makes it less odd to simply stay as an ‘invite only’ guest. Ultimately though I believe every type of invitation has the potential of being a gift, one of a wonderful and warm welcome. Do you agree? Can you recall the differences?
I do not think we can manufacture welcoming someone. Although some of us have practiced doing ‘it’ for so long I think we actually become the person we think we are supposed to be in thinking ‘it’s best’ to welcome one ‘in this way.’ That make sense? With that happening sadly both the host and the one invited don’t receive the best gift, each other. At the heart of one able and willing to invite is their most genuine self. All the parts of the gathering can be just right, like Magnolia right, but if the source of life isn’t present meaning you and I… this event, this exchange, this gift will remain unopened and will fall into the plain ole RSVP stack.
What level of importance does this idea carry with you and your heart post pandemic? Maybe, just maybe more invitations will come with an incredible sense of welcome, for we now have tasted and know what it is like to live without. Dream with me, what will your first gathering be? Will it be just you and your set-apart loved one, intentionally stepping away to a new space, with the hopes to restore something, or just appreciate the stillness? Will it be with your extended family whom you’ve missed terribly? Or maybe a little friend tea-time? Do you feel a sense of anxiousness in planning this time or is your heart free and able to leap forward to fellowship without any struggle or striving?
I hope we let our whole self be present in all the future invitations we send out or are invited to. I know we each can bring some amazing warm welcomes to help make and mark our days, and their days to come. Let’s celebrate, for this opportunity is for such a time as this! And… if in your inviting you find no one is able to attend, you can count on me, and our lively flock of five. See you soon <3