In anticipation of hearing Brennan Manning tomorrow night, I have been plotting my seating arrangements. Being always the early one, there are documentented reports of people not wanting to go with me because of my early bird tendencies, a shortcoming that I find personally, very likable.
These are all my ideal perferences and while circumstances and people soemtimes get in my way, I find these the most condusive to almost perfection.
Movies - with movies. its all about being visual. Sound is now covered from anywhere you sit but especially in this venue, it is all about where you sit. Ideally, you want to sit where you are a little above dead center of the screen and directly in the middle. When you do get the Seat, the experience is unforgetable.
Music concert - nothing like front row, one seat to the right - just off center. Eric Clapton never sounded so good. Happy didn't begin to describe the experience.
Speaker - in hearing a speaker much like the music thing, the focus is on a single person of group. To be able to really listen to a speaker, you don't want to be as close as if you would to hear a song or see someone's hand strum a guitar. You need a little distance so 1/3 of the way from the stage - same position, one seat to the right-just off center is speaker nirvana.
Church - No doubt about it ...back row - left side. Unlike the single focus of being at a concert or hearing a author speak, the back row is where church is the best. From the back row, you are able to take in the Big Picture. It is as close to seeing what God sees as we ever get. My favorite part of church is the first note of the first song. We are all on the same page - we practice what we will one day know firsthand. As the singing continues, I scan the crowd and recall the Stories I know and pray that they have come this far. The preacher always sounds better from the back and the cool part is, you can give him hand gestures when needed.
It is not about being in front or getting a good seat - it is about knowing where you to be to get what you need. The same goes for God - you need to be where you can hear His Voice. You need to sit where you can pay attention - wherever that may be for you. Hold on to your seat, you may be in for an incredible ride...
