The Search for the “Welcoming Local”
A Theology of Place, Hospitality, and Neighborliness Part I
When I was 12 years old, my family moved from the small village of Walden, Colorado (Population: 890 during my time) to the rural Midwestern town of Fremont, Ohio (home of Hall of Famer Charles Woodson). Moving to a new place is always challenging. Between meeting new people, learning the culture, to figuring out where the post office is located — moving is a lot of adjusting.
Like many small midwestern towns, Fremont, Ohio, has deep generational roots. Aunties, uncles, cousins, great-granddads, and mom’s ex-boyfriend from high school all lived, live, and will forever live in town. And there is something beautiful about this rootedness in a world of disconnection and infinite mobility.
However, the dark side to having a deep connection to a place is the temptation to devolve into tribalism. Those not from here don’t belong here. Those not like us can’t be us. The outsiders are not welcome. This sort of tribalism plagues our world on multiple fronts, from politics, religion, ethnicity, culture, and education. Our desire to belong can quickly become a desire to exclude.
Rootedness is a beautiful thing. But, rootedness is only truly beautiful when it’s met with…
