25.1.30 Radical Welcome and Hospitality

Dear Friends of Sacred Ground,

At its heart, spiritual direction is a practice of radical welcome and hospitality. This hospitality is grounded in an ever-expanding and deepening experience of God’s own welcome and hospitality toward us.

God says to each of us: Just bring yourself, Beloved. That’s all. Don’t leave any part of yourself outside of the door. You are welcome and wanted here, in my heart.

When we experience such unconditional welcome and love, it transforms us. We are then also invited to live that welcome and love to the people and world around us. And isn’t this essential work at this time?

In one of my favorite phrases, from one of my favorite books in Sacred Ground’s Spiritual Direction Formation Program, Judy Cannato describes an invitation to spaciousness and compassion with the words: “There is space in myself for you.” (Field of Compassion, p. 172.)

May these words become a prayer. "There is space in myself for you."

May this prayer become a way of seeing the people around me: "There is space in myself for you."

May we live this spaciousness with courage, especially in times of increasing cruelty and fear.

May our lives proclaim: “You are welcome and wanted. There is space for us, here in God’s heart.”

With blessings and gratitude,

Jessica Sanborn

Program Coordinator