Hospitality Gone Bad

So I was at a special church service last week when I saw an example of Hospitality Gone Bad. At this special church service it was common practice to announce special groups who were visiting such as Sunday school classes and other church groups. The worship leader would read off their name and ask the group to stand while the congregation clapped and said hello. On this evening a large group from the local homeless shelter was visiting and without thinking about it the worship leader asked the group to stand.
I didn't think much about it until the next day when somebody came up to me and asked me what I thought about it all. They assumed I was as upset as they were. After thinking about it, I realized we put the homeless in an awkward situation. However, homelessness itself is an awkward situation of its own.
Turns out that some of the regular attendees at this worship service were upset about the homeless being with them. I heard tell that some folks thought the group was a bunch of criminals. They felt their safety was at risk.
Looking back I wish I was paying more attention to it all. I should have stood when the worship leader asked all of the homeless to stand. Even though I have a roof over my head each night, I am actually homeless. You see, I have a strange conviction that this world is not my home.