The Calgary Stampede: Giving the gift of hospitality

Article content

If there is one thing Calgarians are proud of, it is the generous hospitality the Calgary Stampede inspires. It is infectious.

Whether it is a free pancake breakfast, a parking lot barbecue, a warm (OK, hot) handshake from a stranger or the all familiar “ Yahoo” cry, all of these gestures matter. They remind us that hospitality matters. It is at the core of each of us. Hospitality evokes a sense of pride that matters.

Article content

The Stampede can bring out the best in us as a city. It allows us the step out of our comfort zone and expand our circles.

We were ready for Stampede this year.

While some of us may still be recovering from the three or so years of the COVID pandemic and its remnant effects or the impacts of the recent water restrictions, most Calgarians were ready for this celebration to begin.

A signature sign of Stampede has always been the gift of hospitality.

It goes well beyond the signature white hats at the airport. The spirit is alive and well in every neighbourhood. It provides the chance to widen and welcome the stranger and the neighbour in our midst.

We have been itching to fully express our joy and gratitude that has been latent the past few years. Hospitality is central to an alive city. We all know that the places we have travelled that left a good impression on us were the places where the people were friendly. When I have travelled the world over the years, the same truth rings true: The people make a place.

Hospitality matters and the places where we encounter unexpected or even intentional welcome bring joy to our experience.

Article content

Article content

This is ancient wisdom and hospitality is a central feature of the all faith traditions. It unites religious experience across the globe.

For people of the Hebrew Christian tradition, hospitality is a key commandment in the Bible. It was a requirement in the biblical era to receive and welcome the stranger. The daily travel on foot meant that people had to rely on the generosity of others.

In the often misquoted story of Lot in the book of Leviticus, the sin called out by God is the sin of being inhospitable to travelling strangers. In those days, people were required to welcome, house and feed travellers as it could be a matter of life and of death. Hospitality was also a sign of grace and the enactment of God’s presence in the world.

As Paul writes in his letter to the Hebrews, the surprise and wisdom welcoming others brings is awe-inspiring. He writes, “Practice hospitality, for in doing so you may be entertaining angels unawares.” This was a way of encouraging people to widen their circle and to receive the stranger as a gift or divine messenger.

Of course Jesus was the embodiment of hospitality. He was always making room for the least, lost and lonely. His parables were stories of hospitality. To the one robbed on the road to Jericho he tells the story of the Good Samaritan and the generosity of a foreigner. To the wayward son in the prodigal son story, a fatted calf, a ring and a new cloak welcome the lost home without judgement or shame.

Article content

In the end Jesus said that what matters most is how we take care for each other — how we practice hospitality. Offering food, drink and welcome to the stranger was as though it was done unto him.

This hospitality is a pretty simple message that resonates with the call of the Stampede. It helps us get out of ourselves and perhaps risk entertaining an angel in our midst.

In my community of faith, hospitality is one of the values we seek to practice. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we fall short. But we try. I say to folks, “We practice hospitality here because we believe that in eating and drinking together we are changed, dare I say transformed, by the experience and the conversation.”

To extend this further I ritually ask a question of the day in the worship service, based on the theme of the service. People are encouraged to take three minutes to form small groups of two or three and respond to a relevant question. It is time to do what I call, horizontal transcendence. Inviting a sharing of our life stories. I do this to ensure people have a small, intentional conversation where they are heard and seen — where they are acknowledged by another.

Article content

This is often the most important part of the service. Over a cup of hot coffee or glass of cold lemonade stories are shared. This enlivens our worship experience. Conversations and hospitality are small steps to welcome all as one. It says: “ You belong here! “ Don’t we all hunger for that kind of affirmation? I do.

In these days of division, polarization and downright separation, we need to extend the hand and heart of generosity that brings out the best in each other.

Hospitality is ancient wisdom with present day, timeless relevance. So, let’s embrace the Stampede’s call for generous hospitality and dare to live it throughout the year.

It matters!

Rev. John Pentland is the lead minister at Hillhurst United.

Article content