What I See from the Balcony...

I am now a balcony dweller.  After decades as a pastor and having a prime seat in front of a congregation, I have retired to the balcony of the  church.  I have always wanted to sit in the church balcony, but many of the churches I have pastored did not have balconies.

The church I now attend has a large "wrap around" balcony.  Having inherited some phobias from my mother's side of the family, who often felt the ground was about to fall beneath their feet, I must admit I began my balcony dwelling with some trepidation.  After all, an earthquake could shake the old nineteenth century church and the balcony and roof would be the first things to fall.  Fortunately, however, my father's side thought more practically and I realized that it would be better to fall upon others than to be fallen upon.  So with that bit of assurance, I rested comfortably during the hour service.

I must admit that I rather enjoyed my new balcony perspective.  I could see the tops of heads; men who are balding on top; women who should have worn a hat to cover up grown out dye jobs; children drawing in the backs of the hymn books; and an area on the carpet the custodian forgot to vacuum. The sermon sounded just as good upstairs as downstairs, and from my balcony perch I never felt the sermons were over my head!

I suppose there might be some self esteem issue associated with my selecting a balcony seat where I could look down on all the happenings below.  In a way, I felt a little like God, sort of above all the fray but also part of it.  They could break out with fist fights below, throw communion wafers at each other, or wrestle on the chancel and I could just look down and say, "well, ain't that a sight, those people down there fightin' in church like that," then walk out in safety by the side balcony door.

I am sure there are many psycho social dynamics about sitting in the balcony.  Fact is, most of the pews below had been occupied by families for years and I was a little afraid of invading someone's family pew.  While some of the balcony pews are claimed, there is still a pioneer feeling upstairs and I am glad to have staked my claim before any more newcomers rush in.   I do sometimes miss being the star on the stage, but I must admit there is comfort in being a balcony person.  There is also relief in knowing I don't have to have a restless Saturday night wondering if my sermon the next morning will soar to the balcony or crash to the basement.