144: The Balcony

Over the years I have noticed a drift in balcony usage in modern churches. When I was young small children sat with their parent in church. As one grew older there was a right of passage where you moved down front. Not the very front row, that row was for those making decisions.

After a few years down front you outgrew the "kids", so it was back to setting with the parents or in my case grandparents. As one approached their teen years, came the second right of passage the balcony.



After many days of pestering I was finally allowed to sit in the balcony. I was now officially somebody. Being interested in electronics I sat close to the broadcast booth to observe how it worked. After a month or so, the folks setting around got a little lax in their behavior, but no me I was totally innocent (pause in writing this to duck the lightening strike). Suddenly the place got quite. Then with a booming voice I heard "Mr. John Smith, Mr. Harold Jones (names changed to protect the guilty) and Mr. Elmo Bass please go to the balcony and get your Jack, Henry and Bob as they are acting up and disturbing those around them.

Considering that was broadcast on the leading radio station in town, and the family embarrassment I was not permitted to sit in the balcony again, actually I do not remember asking again. Even more I do not think I have ever sat in a balcony again except for a short period of time I ran the sound system in a church some 25 years later.

So when I come and visit your church and sit in your seat, tough, I am setting on the ground floor you go sit in the balcony.