Shall we dance? Choreographing hospitality as key to interpersonal transformation

The icon of the Holy Trinity by Andrei Rublev (1425) is a celebration of hospitality. This article contemplates the icon through Henri Nouwen’s eyes, using his methodology, and shows how the spiritual practice of hospitality is key to interpersonal transformation. The article considers Nouwen’s pro...

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Main Author: G.W. Marchinkowski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2023-12-01
Series:Acta Theologica
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/7791
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author G.W. Marchinkowski
author_facet G.W. Marchinkowski
author_sort G.W. Marchinkowski
collection DOAJ
description The icon of the Holy Trinity by Andrei Rublev (1425) is a celebration of hospitality. This article contemplates the icon through Henri Nouwen’s eyes, using his methodology, and shows how the spiritual practice of hospitality is key to interpersonal transformation. The article considers Nouwen’s proposition that hospitality involved creating a space of true freedom in which the stranger can become a friend. It discusses Beatrice Bruteau’s view that such a free space required a communion paradigm in interpersonal relations, before investigating Nouwen’s unique metaphor for interpersonal transformation, a movement from hostility to hospitality. Finally, the article formulates principles for the spiritual practice of hospitality for ordinary people in everyday life, by considering the contributions of contemporary spiritual writers, Barbara Brown Taylor and Christine Pohl. Brown Taylor believes that the practice of hospitality began with paying attention, and Pohl warns against the challenges associated with its practice.
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language English
publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher University of the Free State
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series Acta Theologica
spelling doaj-art-5676d1fe7706422ea790a5ddbf43636f2025-02-11T09:29:59ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892023-12-0143210.38140/at.v43i2.7791Shall we dance? Choreographing hospitality as key to interpersonal transformationG.W. Marchinkowski0University of the Free State The icon of the Holy Trinity by Andrei Rublev (1425) is a celebration of hospitality. This article contemplates the icon through Henri Nouwen’s eyes, using his methodology, and shows how the spiritual practice of hospitality is key to interpersonal transformation. The article considers Nouwen’s proposition that hospitality involved creating a space of true freedom in which the stranger can become a friend. It discusses Beatrice Bruteau’s view that such a free space required a communion paradigm in interpersonal relations, before investigating Nouwen’s unique metaphor for interpersonal transformation, a movement from hostility to hospitality. Finally, the article formulates principles for the spiritual practice of hospitality for ordinary people in everyday life, by considering the contributions of contemporary spiritual writers, Barbara Brown Taylor and Christine Pohl. Brown Taylor believes that the practice of hospitality began with paying attention, and Pohl warns against the challenges associated with its practice. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/7791
spellingShingle G.W. Marchinkowski
Shall we dance? Choreographing hospitality as key to interpersonal transformation
Acta Theologica
title Shall we dance? Choreographing hospitality as key to interpersonal transformation
title_full Shall we dance? Choreographing hospitality as key to interpersonal transformation
title_fullStr Shall we dance? Choreographing hospitality as key to interpersonal transformation
title_full_unstemmed Shall we dance? Choreographing hospitality as key to interpersonal transformation
title_short Shall we dance? Choreographing hospitality as key to interpersonal transformation
title_sort shall we dance choreographing hospitality as key to interpersonal transformation
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/7791
work_keys_str_mv AT gwmarchinkowski shallwedancechoreographinghospitalityaskeytointerpersonaltransformation