There is a welcoming spirit here in the Philippines that is so beautiful and humble. The poor people in the barrios in and around Borongan really have so very little, and their homes are probably more simple than anyone reading this blog can imagine. However, each and every poor person I have encountered here in the Philippines has welcomed, not only the Oikos Sisters into their homes, but also me...a complete stranger and foreigner. And not begrudgingly either, but with a spirit of true welcome. Never have I felt like a stranger in their homes.
Now, when I had my apartment back in Buffalo, NY, I was always torn as to what to do when my doorbell rang. I mean, who knows who could be at my door...it could be family or it could be a stranger looking for money, drugs, who knows what. I always appreciated when people called before they came over. Perhaps as a single female living in an apartment, that caution was warranted...or perhaps it wasn't about fear at all. There were definitely times when my house was messy and I was embarrassed to open my door to anyone for fear that they would see my sloppiness. Too many dishes in the sink, too many clothes on the bed waiting to be folded, too many papers lying around in piles of procrastination. At least with the warning of a phone call, I could shove stuff into the closets!
Definitely, for company to come over, I wanted to project the perfect image, the house always ready for guests, every thing in its place, no dust and something ready to serve the surprise guest. Sounds a bit like Donna Reed or June Cleaver...but there is something about not wanting to be judged about the state of a home, isn't there? Maybe not opening the door because of not wanting to be judged is a little extreme, or even making apologies about the state of your home...this is life and in life we live and in living we make messes. That's ok. Isn't it more important to be welcoming and making people feel "at home" than to be closed off or ashamed of what the house looks like?
There is something to be said for being ready for company. In the Bible, Jesus talks of the virgins who are not prepared with their oil and they miss going into the celebration, of being prepared for you do not know the day or the hour when you will be called home. Now, Jesus was talking about having the state of our souls ready, but as with many excerpts from the Bible, there can be more than one meaning. Perhaps Jesus was also talking of the state of our homes, of our lives...that we always must be ready to welcome people into our homes, into our lives. That person knocking on the door just may be Jesus, and in my ignoring the knock, I ignore Him. Without a doubt, when I knock on the Gate of Heaven, I don't want St. Peter to ignore me!!
The poor people of the Philippines have little in their homes to boast about...no grand pianos, no luxurious furniture (sometimes no furniture), no works of art or the newest appliances...in fact, no appliances. Most of the time, the floor is mud and the walls aren't painted. But the truth is, upon entering a home, it is the people's smiles that light up the room. It is the offer of food when they have so little that is so becoming, it is the sweet way they go out of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable that is so charming. And of their homes they are very proud...proud to be able to put a roof over the heads of their families to keep them safe, proud to be able to welcome guests, surprised by the visit or not.
And, perhaps there is something to be said also for living a simple life, not cluttering up your homes and your life with so much stuff that you have to shove it all in a closet to avoid feeling bad. I don't know...I don't want to get all philosophical on you...I just know that when I close myself off like that, who knows the opportunities that I miss out on. Certainly, most of the people, if not all, who open their door to the Oikos Sisters are profoundly happy that they did so regardless of the state of their homes.
Yep...still learning here in the Philippines!! And happy to be doing so!! xxoo Sarah
