I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a little bit country. And, being a little bit country, you grow up with a different kind of lingo. As a child I grew up calling our “living” room the “front” room. This was because it was the room that was at the front of the house. It was the first room, and often the only room, that visitors would see. This room set the impression for the house, so it was always clean. The rest of the rooms in the house (except for the bathroom) could be in total chaos, but not the front room!
However, in today’s conversations, the word “front” often implies a different meaning. A “front” is a cover or disguise for another activity, especially something disreputable. This gives new meaning, now, to the “front” room. Or does it? When I give it a little more honest thought, I realize that the front room is actually that – the room in which the front takes place! The front room gives the impression to visitors that everything in your house is decent and in order, and masks the reality of the confusion taking place in the private rooms, which are the ones most utilized! The front room hides the bedroom battles! It disguises the disgust in the den! It covers the cussing in the kitchen! The front room gives all who visit, the appearance that the occupants of the house, have it all together!
Many of us who come to church today, rather than assembling in a living room – a room of life, a room of living – are gathering in a front room! We are unwilling to reveal our wounds! We refuse to let others see our brokenness! We front! We pretend that we have it all together! We practice worshipping while wounded, and leading while bleeding! We are good at trying to give help, denying the fact that we need help ourselves!
Family, wounded people wound people! We can’t be healed if we can’t be real! Let’s choose, today, to end our relationship in the front room! Let’s go into the room of life! Let’s go into the room of unity, the room of healing, the room of wholeness! Let’s be honest and real with one another! Come! Join me in the Living Room!
However, in today’s conversations, the word “front” often implies a different meaning. A “front” is a cover or disguise for another activity, especially something disreputable. This gives new meaning, now, to the “front” room. Or does it? When I give it a little more honest thought, I realize that the front room is actually that – the room in which the front takes place! The front room gives the impression to visitors that everything in your house is decent and in order, and masks the reality of the confusion taking place in the private rooms, which are the ones most utilized! The front room hides the bedroom battles! It disguises the disgust in the den! It covers the cussing in the kitchen! The front room gives all who visit, the appearance that the occupants of the house, have it all together!
Many of us who come to church today, rather than assembling in a living room – a room of life, a room of living – are gathering in a front room! We are unwilling to reveal our wounds! We refuse to let others see our brokenness! We front! We pretend that we have it all together! We practice worshipping while wounded, and leading while bleeding! We are good at trying to give help, denying the fact that we need help ourselves!
Family, wounded people wound people! We can’t be healed if we can’t be real! Let’s choose, today, to end our relationship in the front room! Let’s go into the room of life! Let’s go into the room of unity, the room of healing, the room of wholeness! Let’s be honest and real with one another! Come! Join me in the Living Room!
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