The Solace of Shelter by Jan Powell

The Solace of Shelter

by Jan Powell

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

(Luke 2:4-7, ESV)

When have we welcomed a weary writer? The Bible challenge to be a faith family makes me want to offer others writing hospitality. Some flounder from adversity, others from failure or rejection. My heart hurts with theirs. I want to save the flounderers!

Needs come in various forms. Ruth and Naomi, weary and in need of a bath and a couple of days of sleep, needed hospitality. We have the initial record of the locals recoiling over the two widows. Naomi lamented that her life was emptied, bitter, and no longer pleasant.

We don’t know from the holy record if anyone stepped up that first day or two, or that first night of homecoming after bereavement. Help arrived later among those on the fringes, when a human “savior” came in the person of Boaz who showed great kindness. How much must we sacrifice to aid those who need some time away or a word of encouragement?

Two thousand years ago, Joseph and Mary needed help and only got the barest of lodgings and isolation to welcome Jesus into their little family. We want to think we would have given our room to them. But that lonely day, no one did. We can learn and do better.

Had other family members present in Bethlehem for the mandated census arrived early and warned off people from helping this disgraced couple? We don’t know.

God knew the authorities would declare a census. As obedient and faithful Jews, Joseph and Mary complied. Sometimes writers need shelter. Is God calling us away from the familiar and comfortable? I try to look for his will in that prompting.

Those most familiar might wound us the deepest while someone outside the regular community can offer healing.

Sometimes we have the opportunity to offer shelter. We can be the answer to others’ prayers for solace and help. Is there a writer near you that needs a welcome? Find them. Invite them over. Offer a space to compose, a reason to keep going. Be open to new relationships, short or long. Solace for others becomes a chance to stay in God’s will rather than to just stay comfortable. We can turn people alone into people included when we offer support as a shelter.

God of solace and shelter, Give me your heart like yours, open to helping others. Amen.

Jan Powell, a graduate of the University of South Florida, helps writers through Writing with You, offering editing, rewriting, and coaching for fiction and non-fiction. Published in The Wordsmith Journal and Splickety, she has written for Inkspirations since the beginning. Her in-depth editing includes poetry, devotionals, memoirs, fantasy, murder mysteries, thrillers, romantic suspense, and flash fiction. She has hosted Tampa Word Weavers for almost two decades and has served in its leadership.

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