Earlier I was contemplating all the help I received from a friend in 2012 for making some home improvements.  I began literally getting my house in order before his arrival, moving furniture to accomodate two, planting a privacy hedge and creating new outdoor sitting areas.  While here, he repaired my back porch, replaced siding and reorganized the kitchen and pantry. He motivated me to tile my kitchen and bathrooms and replace the front porch light, jobs I’d put off for years.  It was like I didn’t mind living with it that way for myself, but I wanted something better for a guest.  I can be fairly oblivious sometimes, so focused on some project and not notice nor care that I  never tiled the kitchen floor after pulling up the old vinyl years ago.  But as I began to prepare to share space with a beloved guest, I saw my humble abode through their eyes and I wanted more for them.  I wanted things to be fresh and new and complete to delight the senses. Whatever we do for anyone, we do for The Beloved, The Guest, for God. We want to please all sorts of people as excuses for wanting to delight God, to please The Beloved, who comes disguised in as many forms at as many times as we allow. So as I reflect on having spent 2012 getting my house in order, I thank and bless the one who helped me do that. Now I can’t help but wonder what I was getting it in order for and in what form The Guest will appear next.