I used to sit in church in Africa and wonder how many people could sit on a pew. I finally decided the answer was “One more.” It filled me with awe. I would be sure a pew was full and then someone else would come and somehow he fit. The need for personal space seems to be cultural. I’m sure it has something to do with an entire family living in one or two rooms as opposed to most of us growing up with our own room.
Have you ever had someone keep invading your personal space when talking to you? They press in and we keep backing up, but to no avail. They just keep coming. And it is doubly bad if they had garlic for dinner. Now I say this in contrast to my wanting to be really close to the people I love. The closer the better.
Most cars today have bucket seats, which are nice, but the best time was when the front seat was a bench. It was always so wonderful when your sweetheart slid over into the middle instead of hugging the door. Love overrules our normal personal space need.
It reminds me of a hymn I grew up singing. “I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me; but I long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to Thee.” We are told that John pressed in close to Jesus at the last supper. Some might say it was because he was politically ambitious but I think it was so much more than that. John was a teenager and Jesus was his idol, his role model, his messiah and John couldn’t get close enough.
Written by Roger Bothwell on April 24, 2013
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org