FAITH: The significance of hospitality

In the year 2000, Robert Putnam wrote a bestselling book entitled “Bowling Alone.” At more than 500 pages with footnotes, Putnam makes the argument that American community life is in steep decline. Now, more than 25 years later, Putnam’s contention seems to be unmistakably true. We’ve lost our communal bearings. On every side, we seem to be divided. Red vs. blue. Conservative v. progressive. Left v. right. Gay v. straight. Dry rub v. sauce. Pan pizza v. thin crust. Every opportunity to divide exists, and we’ll even argue about the best way to prove it. And after last week’s elections, the divisions are starker than ever. One of my favorite stories is a classic children’s work entitled “The Wind in the Willows.” The storybook outlines the exploits of a cadre of unlikely and dissimilar friends. Author Kenneth Grahame introduces us to Mole, Badger, Ratty, Otter and the inimitable Toad (who happens to be my favorite).

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