God Is Our Audience
Ray and I enjoyed our weekend filled with grandchildren and homeschool artistic activities. Our oldest granddaughter performed beautifully in a dance performance Friday night. She and her oldest brother did a great job in a play on Saturday night (with a drama group that is not the Homeschool Dramatic Society their mother directs). Those two spent the night with us last night, and their three younger brothers stayed over Friday night. At the request of the nine-year-old, those grandsons and I painted two turtles, a rocket ship, and a dog at a local store on the Gainesboro Square on Saturday afternoon. Our seven-year-old grandson said that his dog’s face looks like he is the chief dog. I think he is right. I painted one of the turtles. Here he is.
One of the many joys of the weekend performances was running into fellow homeschooling parents from Ray’s and my day who were there to watch their own grandchildren! Our chats with them were very encouraging. Knowing that these veteran homeschooling friends had heard through social media or the grapevine about Ray’s health challenges and were praying for us was nourishment for our hearts. We are so very blessed.
At a cast party on Saturday night, a homeschooling friend asked Ray what he was going to preach about yesterday morning. Ray said that he was going to talk about God being our audience. He explained that the Danish theologian and philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said that though we often think of the church as the audience and ministers as performers, God is the audience. The congregation is made up of actors, and ministers prompt them. Though I found websites that criticize this idea, I think it is true.
This truth reminds me of the children’s song I have quoted before:
Be careful little eyes what you see.
Be careful little eyes what you see.
The Father up above is looking down in love,
So be careful little eyes what you see.
Be careful little ears what you hear.
Be careful little ears what you hear.
The Father up above is looking down in love,
So be careful little ears what you hear.
Be careful little hands what you do.
Be careful little hands what you do.
The Father up above is looking down in love,
So be careful little hands what you do.
Be careful little feet where you go.
Be careful little feet where you go.
The Father up above is looking down in love,
So be careful little feet where you go.
Be careful little tongues what you say.
Be careful little tongues what you say.
The Father up above is looking down in love,
So be careful little tongues what you say.
As a child, I was a little bit scared of that reality. I should have paid more attention to the fact that the Father up above is looking down in love. The concept is still sobering, but it is also absolutely wonderful. I would never want to live a moment—even if I could—without our strong, faithful, attentive, omnipotent, loving Father looking down in love. Be sure to teach your children the truth of this comforting verse Ray quoted in his sermon yesterday:
For the eyes of the Lord
move to and fro throughout the earth
that He may strongly support
those whose heart is completely His.
2 Chronicles 16:9
