John and I had another gathering. I wanted it to be easy for guests to come, and yet they went the extra mile, bringing their own delicious offerings. There was no lack. 

We went around the room telling stories about the person we were celebrating. There was enough laughter and music for everyone. 

As the last person was leaving, she spoke. 

"I notice that you are inviting a lot! How are you feeling as you get ready? Is it stressful?"

"No, my intention is to enjoy the people, and trust that they are coming as friends. I do clean up, and prepare food. But it's not to impress anyone."

I remembered many good times I have had in her home over our long friendship. But many of us stopped inviting in recent years.

The reality is, that if someone wanted to find fault with our home, it was easy. The counter in the entryway is crowded with homeless jars, and art supplies. There is still the drawing on the stone hearth where our granddaughter practiced her name before Christmas. The stack of puzzles never made it to the closet and sits, bored, under a table. Plus a myriad of other faux pas and forgotten domestic mistakes that I have become blind to.

 Yet none of those had any strength to ruin the night. Mistakes were not what our friends came hungry for. 

"Those who are guided by kindness, on the other hand, hardly even notice evil in another but pay attention instead to everything good and true in the person. When they do find anything bad or false, they put a good interpretation on it."

Emanuel Swedenborg, Secrets of Heaven 1079