Dancing in the Shadows
Whilst leading the parish worship is a rich and delicious joy, when I’m on holiday I relish the chance just to slip quietly into the back pew and let the liturgy wash over me. I adopt a number of postures depending on how I am feeling. There have been times when I have felt pretty wretched and I have knelt for much of the liturgy. I have stood at the back just because I wanted to get a really good squiz at everything. There have also been times when I have just sat there and done not much else.
In the end, I have snuck out during the last hymn so that no one could ask me ‘What do you do?’. This question automatically and quickly puts me to work. Once I fudged it and replied ‘I work with people’ which is not a lie, but neither was it the whole truth and the answer that they were looking for.
I am not disheartened or frustrated then if from time to time I find that there are folk who choose to ‘Dance in the shadows of the back pew’. I don’t know their story and unless of their own volition, choose to share it, then it is none of my beeswax.
Just by being available, being accessible and respecting their ‘dance’ we will be exactly what we are called to be. A home for sinners and a refuge for saints. We welcome all those who just want/need to come and dance quietly in the shadows. We promise not to pry into your life or gawp at whatever posture you might be most comfortable with. All we gently say is ‘Welcome’. The rest is up to you.