Advent II: Balconies

I worship in a church that has a balcony. In fact, it has three, and their presence offers a grand and glorious effect to the architecture of the space. Unfortunately, their presence also speaks of a history that is anything but grand and glorious. It was where “the help” were to sit, usually men and woman of color. In older churches, the balconies were reserved for slaves. Such spaces are not unique to churches, balconies in theaters and courtrooms also served the same purpose. (Remember, To Kill a Mockingbird?”

It is often tempting to look back and throw stones at the past, but the fact is we still live surrounded by balconies, most of them internal. It’s where we relegate people we’d rather not sit beside. It’s ok for _______ (fill in the blank) to be here, but just keep them away from me, the thinking goes. Maybe it’s the color of their skin, their socio-economic standing, where their from, or something they’ve done. Maybe it’s their political perspectives or religious beliefs that causes us to put someone in the balcony, but, whatever the reason, we are often eager to move people into balconies. We all have them and are more eager than we’d like to admit to usher those who differ from us to such set apart places. 

Looking up at the balcony last  Sunday, I saw a son of a friend of mine who was in town to visit. He and his husband chose to sit in the balcony. Maybe it’s where he likes to sit. Maybe it’s because it’s where he sat as a child. Maybe not.

Advent is a season that calls us to reflect on our lives and consider making room in the inn. After all, there were no balconies in the stable. Shepherds knelt beside wise men, sheep beside cattle. Everyone had the same view of the one who came to take balconies away. Maybe he was trying to teach us something from the very start.

Advent Thinking:

Who do you put in the balcony?

When have you ever felt like you were placed apart from others?

What would it look like for you to invite someone from the balcony to sit beside you?

What would it take to refuse to be ushered up into the balcony?