First, a confession. I am both a Diet Coke aficionado and a Diet Coke “junkie.” It’s my favorite thing to drink. I could write a whole blog (and probably will someday) about the pecking order of my preferences. At the top of that list is a perfectly mixed Diet Coke from a fountain machine (like the ones at 7-Eleven, Sonic, Wawa, etc.), with the “good pellet ice,” which, in my opinion is “nirvana.”
I recently served in a parish and lucky for me, there was a 7-Eleven right across the street from the church. Even luckier for me, about a year or so after I started, they remodeled. New soda dispensers, the “good ice,” and Styrofoam Big Gulp cups (please no lectures about saving the planet!). I couldn’t believe my eyes. All this seemed too good to be true, except it wasn’t. But what’s even more important to know about this particular 7-Eleven, is the hospitality practiced by the owner and the employees. And not just one employee, but all of them. I frequented that 7-Eleven every day of the week and at all times of the day – and they never failed to treat me and the other customers in any manner other than kind and gracious.
As a “regular” customer, they learned my habits, greeted me warmly as I entered the store – heck, they even let me bring my stainless-steel Sonic tumbler in for my daily Big Gulp refill and never blinked an eye that it had another vendor’s logo on it. And that second Big Gulp cup full of ice that I also got every day – well that was free. One employee used to delight in ringing my $1.19 refill up at the $0.99 “new” Big gulp price during the summers, always smiling and saying, “I got you.” It was all the little things that made this 7-Eleven location my favorite one.
I’ve since moved to a new call, at a place in the complete opposite direction of where the church and that 7-Eleven are. I hated the thought of having to find a new regular haunt for my morning kickstart. The shift to a new morning stop hasn’t been great, but I think I’m getting used to it. And I remind myself daily to “practice what I preach” as the saying goes.
When we think of hospitality, images of upscale hotels, fine dining restaurants, or cozy bed-and-breakfasts are what often come to mind, not a 7-Eleven. These are spaces where the warmth of human interaction is expected, where service with a smile is a given. Yet, hospitality isn’t limited to just these settings. I have discovered firsthand that it is alive and well in the most unexpected places, like 7-Eleven convenience stores, grocery stores, or gas stations. These places, like 7-Eleven, are literally on every corner.
I’m not sure hospitality is the first thing we think about when we visit any number of these business designed for quick transactions and transient experiences, but I’m convinced we can find these moments of genuine human connection that redefine our understanding of what hospitality truly means. That is, if we’re willing to take the time to notice it.
This kind of hospitality is not rooted in luxury or extravagance but in basic human kindness. It’s the acknowledgment of another person’s presence, the small effort to make them feel seen and valued. To be sure, this type of hospitality should “work both ways”. We should treat the employees the same way we’d like them to treat us. In a world that often feels rushed and impersonal, these brief moments of connection remind us that hospitality is not about where you are, but how you make others feel. Being gracious with one another reaffirms our humanity, reminding us that we are not just consumers, but individuals with emotions, stories, and needs. It reminds us that we are all children of God. In a world increasingly dominated by technology and automation, human interactions are becoming rarer, and therefore, more valuable and necessary than ever. Hospitality helps remind us of our humanity.
So, the next time you stop by a 7-Eleven, a McDonald’s, Wawa, or any other place designed to make your life a little easier, take a moment to observe the interactions around you. You might be surprised by the small acts of kindness you witness or even experience yourself. Return them in kind. Make others feel welcomed, valued, and cared for, no matter who or where they are.
In a world where we are constantly on the move, these fleeting interactions may be the only touch of warmth someone receives in a day. They serve as a gentle reminder that hospitality is not about grandeur or expectation, but about the simple, human act of making someone else’s journey a little brighter.
Peace and love,
Deacon Lisa