when a few hours at the campground leads to an open house

a simple invite:

"we are going to be at Grayson Lake campground this weekend

you are welcome to join us anytime..."

led to 

stretching my comfort level and accepting the offer Sunday evening

enjoying two brats (brauts) cooked on the blackstone

laughing hysterically at the antics of someone elses kids and grandkids

acquaintances becoming friends 

friends becoming more like family

making connections of who belongs to who

campfire sitting

night sky watching

learning which "stars" are actually Jupiter and Saturn

seeing the Milky Way

recognizing a satellite 

witnessing two meteors 

a content and thankful heart 

and a challenge

all because someone was willing to include me in their "ordinary"

If you think "it" has to be fancy or structured to be worthwhile 

I am here to highly suggest you think again. 

Genuinely offering to allow someone to join you in your normal activities

is more than enough to have a positive impact.

In their life.

In your relationship.

Make the invite.

(I'm preaching to myself,

but someone else may need to hear this message too.)

Need ideas?

Invite them to join you-

at the campground

the playground

the trail

the gym

the park

the coffee shop

the corner diner

in your home

your backyard

running errands

the hardest part will probably be making the ask.

Just do it.

Time invested in relationships, doing ordinary things together, is time well spent. It's a lesson I know well. One I have practiced liberally-in the past. Life changes stunted my practice. Affected my ability to see clearly. I am healing. I am growing. I am changing. God has been kindly, patiently awakening me to truths and I am at a point where I am no longer content to sit and watch, waiting to be included. Instead I will sit and watch, looking for others to include. It's been a minute, and it is a little frightening, but I think I'm ready to open my home again for regular, everyday ministry. It has a history of filling my life with gifts of sweet memories and deep friendships. 

I want more of them in my life.