Finding a New Place to Sit
I remember, long ago, when Beth and I were sitting in the multi-purpose room of Bella Vista Middle School, getting ready for worship service to start. We were on the left side, just off the aisle, when a couple in their mid-fifties approached us and said, "Ummm, you're sitting in our seats."
We laughed. We had no clue that they normally sat there. Apparently they were late arriving to church that day. But they weren't laughing. They stood there expectantly, waiting for us to pick up and move. Reading the non-verbals, we moved down the row a bit, allowing them to worship in peace.
Since then, I've taken to noticing when people sit in the same space regularly.^1^ And sometimes, I'll sit in their chair, just to see what happens - and hopefully move them somewhere new for a week! 😜
It is easy to get comfortable in our routines. Steve Jobs famously wore the same black turtleneck almost every day, and I know a man in our church who's eaten the exact same breakfast for years. We are all creatures of habit. On Sundays, that often means that we arrive at the same time, whether early or late, then sit in the same place, and on the patio, talk to the same people.
But when you come to church, there are more people around than your friend circle. There are visitors, people who came without knowing anyone, and others who only know the person who invited them. There are other folks who've been coming to church for awhile, but whom you may have never spoken with before.
They'll be in church around you, when you attend or maybe arriving later, and they'll be out on the patio or foyer afterwards. I can sometimes notice them, standing awkwardly with their family, while others just standing on the fringe, watching people around them. All of them need to be welcomed and invited in!
So this coming Sunday, I'd like to ask you to do something different...
More than just saying 'hi' this week, would you consider breaking your routine and looking for people new-ish to the church, and inviting them in. Pull their family into your circle. Invite them to talk with your family. Introduce them to your friends and help them feel a part of the larger church family.
In our church, there are a number who do this already, but it's something we can excel still more in. Make this Sunday a day to break routines and get uncomfortable. To let someone else sit in your chair... or to go looking for somewhere new to sit, around people you don't know, so that you can show the love of Christ to them!
On a Sunday morning, this is one of the primary ways in which people see the love and grace that God has poured out on us. It's not too much to say that our affection, or lack thereof, for others will have just as large an impact as the sermon this Sunday. What an opportunity for us to show off Jesus Christ!