Outposts of the Kingdom

I once read that we should think of our homes as "outposts of the Kingdom," and that phrase has come to be something of a personal mantra, encouragement repeated as I extend an invitation for supper, work in the garden, or maintain a space that serves my family well... affirming the work of keeping a home and opening it to others.  

I find that I need this affirmation because this work, the work it requires to keep a home, is wildly undervalued in our society today.  Just think for a moment about what you might consider a "skill."  Knowing how to change the oil in your car?  Woodwork?  Plumbing?  Wiring up a new outlet?  Backing up a trailer?

Now consider these examples: Calming a distraught child. Cooking a meal from scratch. Washing the dishes. Holding up flash cards with an encouraging smile.  Remembering to do the flash cards.

Naw, you might say, that stuff's easy. Anyone can do it; it doesn't require any special set of knowledge or competency. Well, I would argue against that notion. Becoming proficient at each of the items in the second list takes practice, a servant heart, and yes, skill, as do the items in the first list. For example, my children don't know how to work in the garden until I teach them the skills of holding a hoe in your hands, finding an efficient motion, identifying plants and weeds, and then having the determination to stick with a chore until it's done.

In our homes, we foster relationships. We retreat and rest. We work within and without, developing and maintaining spaces that serve us well. We strive to create an environment that encourages connection, conversation, and growth. We cook and serve food. We open the doors as places of hospitality and welcome.

That all sounds pretty important to me, like skills in which we can take pride and spend time developing. Instead of using domestic work as a synonym for menial tasks or unskilled labor, perhaps we can begin to assign this work the value that it deserves, work worthy of those servants manning the outposts of the Kingdom.

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