Beech Tree News Network

BLOCKING THE VIEW

Not long ago our family set aside some time to take in a festival. This particular festival took its name from proximity to a prominent river and an abundance of cathedral like spires scattered over some of the older architecture throughout the city. We found this particular festival last year, when the featured act was a country girl, whose name I will just say, sounds something like-pickle, was featured as the main act. There were several more musical acts scattered throughout the festival, along with food and games and such. All the musical entertainment was completely free and with our family on a bit of a tight budget, that was right up our alley, so we thought about making it a family tradition.

This year a pretty big name country duo was booked to be the featured act on the night we chose to attend. The weather was not nearly as pleasant this year as last though, it was very chilly, even for an early spring day and a cold, acerbic rain was falling, although not heavily, for a good part of the day. We arrived just as a featured military band was setting up to play some rock music. Last year, the military band played jazz and we were looking forward to a similar performance this year, the youngest member of our clan was especially looking forward to some rocking jazz but we saw that a collegiate band was scheduled to perform some jazz later that day, so we settled in to enjoy the rock performance, without being disappointed.

Right as the band was getting ready to perform though, the organizers of the festival decided to shut the whole thing down, presumably because of the weather but when you advertise that it will be held come,“rain or shine” then just damp, dreary conditions should not be reason enough to upset everyone's plans and disappoint all those still hoping to enjoy the performances. I believe the organizers just got lazy, had someplace else they had rather be and since this was the last year for the festival (so much for our family tradition) they just said “forget it” and didn't really care about anyone else or their plans or disappointment, it mattered very little to them.

Later that afternoon our daughter discovered on Facebook that one act, a fairly well known contemporary christian band, had found an indoor space in the auditorium of a large local church and were going to be the only performers still putting on a show. Our family had not personally heard this band, birthed in the land down under and going by the name of “royalty and country” or something like that but we all thoroughly enjoyed their music and have even began following them on Facebook since then.

We got in line at the church about an hour before they were scheduled to perform and spent most of the time just standing, waiting for the doors to be unlocked. We were far enough back in line that we were not able to get any seats really close to the stage but we weren't too far back and the pews were arranged somewhat theater style, so we could see well. The problem came when the band came out on stage, nearly everyone in the auditorium stood up and remained standing, through just about all of the performance

You see, I understand the the inclination or perhaps it is even instinct, to want to stand up, in anticipation of a musical performance. Standing up demonstrates an enthusiasm for the show, an appreciation for the artists performing, it is even kind of a sign of respect, a way of participating, right along with the performers. The problem with this line of reasoning is though, it is totally focused forward and only centers on what you personally are getting out of the performance. Especially for a performance centered on Christ, you might want to think about those behind you and not just your own personal enjoyment. What about those whose view you are blocking? What about those behind you who happen to be a foot shorter than you are? Or what about those behind you, with small children asleep in their lap? What about the person fighting cancer, worn out from standing in line, or the elderly fellow, needing a walker to stand at all? Wouldn't it be kinder and more Christ like and show your appreciation more fully, to remain seated and not block the view of the person behind you?

We can “block the view” in so many ways for the folks whom are metaphorically standing behind us. There are those behind us, whose very footsteps we may also have trod, just a short time ago but we become so focused on what this journey with God means to us and what we personally are getting out of it, that we totally block God from their view. They never see him at all. When we show a face of anger, where there should be love, we obstruct someones view. When we perpetuate arrogance, instead of humbleness, we obstruct someones view. When we disregard justice and compassion, in the name of security, when we become self-centered when we should be selfless, when winning and power and corruption are flaunted as virtues worthy of obtaining and done under the guise of righteousness; then we are obstructing the view, from those whom might be desperately longing for just a glimpse of the face of God.

I wrote most of this column while sitting in a hospital room and almost scrapped it, to write something totally different, when devastating news came in. I decided to not scrap it but I would like to ask for prayer for our family, from all the readers of this column.

Thank you.