An Epic Challenge

On monday we were given the task of spending the day trying to provide hospitality. I really embraced the idea since it is a topic that is incredibly important in the world and I believe its something that can always be improved. It turns out that it's sometimes difficult to go out and look to give hospitality.

The first real difficulty I had was that I have always thought that hospitality involves inviting someone into your own space. Since I am new to the Chicago community and I really dont have any of my "own" space here I felt unable to provide hospitality by my own definition.

But none the less, in order to make a sincere effort, Constance and I headed to Millenium Park where we offered to take pictures of families in front of the "big bean" so everyone could get in the picture. In doing this I felt that I was being nice, but I also felt as if I was going into someone elses space by approaching them and asking if they wanted their picture taken. It just didn't seem like hospitality. After discussing the situation Constance and I decided to walk around down town; where we bought a doughnut and coffee for a man and picked up several dozen magazines that had spilled out all over the sidewalk. After about four hours and miles of walking we headed home.

At the end of the day I felt as if I had done a lot of "nice" things but didn't feel as if I had accomplished my goal of being hospitable. To me it seemed a difficult task and during that time I often thought that hospitality may not be one of those things to go looking to give, the opportunity may just come to you. At the same time maybe I just need to think about or come up with a better understanding of what hospitality really is.