Lost Motels

I like my routines, which means when I make my drive from Nova Scotia to Ontario and back, I tend to stay at the same hotels along the way. However, on my last trip I tried some new hotels, due to availability, prices, and timing. This change in routine prompted me to think about hotels. Hotels are interesting places. They are an ancient institution. As long as there have been travellers, there have been places to stay along the way and, as noted in Luke 2:7, they can be busy. They are, by definition, a literal liminal space: “you are no longer where you were and not yet where you are going.” Such spaces allow us to expand our horizons and try new things. Even though there are price ranges for hotels, you’ll meet people different from you, at the pool or in the breakfast room, especially in areas where there are fewer hotel options. It’s no wonder that hotels are often associated with sexual escapades. At a minimum, someone else is dealing with the sheets (it’s good manners to leave a…