Hospitality won't cure all our ills. It won't erase underlying problems that promote a climate of division or create a magical panacea for human suffering. But hospitality can help. It can assist and guide us in the way we deal with and ultimately solve our problems. It can allow us to function with grace and dignity.
In our global community, hospitality has become a vital, booming industry. The business side of it makes the world run more smoothly and efficiently, promoting greater productivity and offering choices we might not otherwise have. But lavish hotels, professional catering services, and exclusive vacation packages don't lessen our yearning for the homegrown version. They're welcome, but often short-term fixes that can distract us from our spiritual center and leave us feeling empty. In fact, the proliferation of such commercial outlets for hospitality only makes this basic element of spirituality even more meaningful and attractive.
Hospitality is the social staff of life, a starting point for discourse and interaction. Even when we're not conscious of its presence, hospitality stands by like a gracious host, discretely ensuring friendly exchanges and peaceful outcomes. It's the background music to the human dance, an old song that still rings true.
— Thea Jarvis, Every Day Hospitality