Strange start, you say? Maybe. It’s a stretch, you think? Perhaps.
But the truth is, I think some old people at my hometown Baptist church have taken this verse to heart…except “the land” that God apparently has given them is “their pew.”
Now, listen, these are good people. They love the Lord and attend church regularly. My grandparents are in fact the leaders of the whole crew, probably. Eugene and June (do you get better grandparent names?) are quite popular indeed among the senior adults; everyone knows who they are…and exactly where they sit on Sunday mornings. On any given Sunday, unless June is having allergy issues, they can be found sitting on the left side, second row from the back, toward the aisle. And how do I know this? This pew, and the surrounding pews, have been silently ‘claimed’ by the old people. It is their secondary territory. And everyone knows it.
Except one poor people group: visitors. God bless them. When these nice families enter the worship center, they peruse the pews to find open seating. Their eyes fixate on an empty space near the back, and they approach it only to feel the burning glare at their backs from the old people around them. Though there are no markers, not even a ‘worship guide’ or a Bible, placed obviously across the seat as a reservation, these visitors now know they are not allowed to sit there. This scene is quite embarrassing to watch, and I know it has to be uncomfortable for the visitors. I feel bad for them. Especially when it’s my grandparents whose seat has been temporarily hijacked…because I know they, or someone they know, will ‘take care of it.’ I remind you, these are good, loving, God-fearing, Kingdom-living people. But don’t sit in their pew. They’ll still love you, but they WILL ask you to move. As terrible as that is..it happens. Welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. But move. One particular Sunday, a couple came to rest on my grandparents’ pew. And one of the sweetest old men I know wheeled his Rascal over to them and said in the nicest voice, “Excuse me, that’s where the Shugarts sit.” And that was all. And the couple moved. My mom and I were mortified, but at this point, what can you do?
I know this kind of thing is common, the whole secondary territory idea. The you-should-know-better, this-is-my-seat, I’m-a-nasty-creature-of-habit type. It’s funny to me, as I observe behaviors at the start of a Sunday’s service, how ‘in-place’ everyone is. The land is claimed. Deuteronomy 1:21. Check.
This is so true. The reactions in the classroom when our seat is invaded. After the first or second day, seating assignments rarely change; when they do, it is the source of confusion and uproar, much like the church pew situation.
ReplyDeleteHaha great post Meredith. I always sit in the same area at church, it freaks me out when I sit on the other side, I feel like my whole world has turned upside down. I love your writing/blog style!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! Your posts are so interesting to read! And it is SO true! I completely agree with Daniel. After about the second week in class and I see someone in "my" seat, I'm like why are you sitting there? We were not assined seats and it there is no nametag on it, but I "claimed it". Also, in my sorority meetings; seniors sit in the front...end of story. If you are a freshmen and you think that you can sit in the front, think again, the seniors will let you know.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy reading your blogs!