This past weekend I was walking home after hanging out with a friend. It was Friday night and I had to walk about 5 minutes from the bus stop to my flat (yet, I say flat now). Now, becasue I live in such a safe neighborhood and because Prague is such a safe city, a woman walking alone at night is totally okay. But, of course, after growing up in the U.S., where everyone is so saftey concious, I am constanly having to remind myself that I am safe and that I don't have to be afraid (aware, yet, but not afraid). Well, as I was walking I saw two men walking towards me, with beers in hand. At this moment, my mind began to scramble and I tensed, prepared for some sort of contact. Sure enough, as they got closer, both men began to speak to me in Czech. I responded with, "Sorry?" and kept walking. They continued to speak to me and I could hear one of them walking behind me. At this point, I wasn't in panic mode but I could definitley feel the fear rising inside of me. I turned, ready to face them, and as I did I was caught totally off guard. One of them was right next to me, speaking in Czech, and holding out my glove, which I had apparently dropped. I took the glove, saying, "Oh I'm sorry! Thank you so much!" Both men chuckled and walked off. To say I felt like a complete and total idiot is an understatement. All these men had tried to do was help me. However, my first response was fear.
As I was reflecting on this interaction, I was reminded of the book we read during support raising. It was "Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life" by Henri Nouwen. In one section of the book, Nouwen talks about hospitatlity. He says, “Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place.”
I've been thinking a lot about my role here in Prague and how I can share Jesus with those around me. What Nouwen said really struck a cord with me. As I continue to build a circle of friends, my hope is that I can create a space for them to be themselves. A space where they can question and wrestle, where they can laugh and find joy. I want to be someone who answers questions freely, listens without judgement, and speaks truth. Hopefully, by doing all of these things, I can give people a clearer picture of who Jesus is. First, though, I should probably work on not being afraid of strangers who are simply trying to return my dropped glove.