Down Front

When I was younger, I always bought General Admission tickets to almost every concert I attended because I was... well, younger.  

In my late teens and early twenties, I didn't mind not having a place to sit while I enjoyed a show, and I didn't mind getting into the middle of "mosh pits" or being nearly crushed against the barricade between the audience and the stage.  

But after decades of sitting in comfort in assigned seats far from the maddening crowd, I have recently taken to buying General Admission / Pit tickets again, and I'm loving it. 

To begin with, I can see better, which is important as one reaches a certain age.  I'm tall enough to see over most people, and when I wear boots to a show, I can add a couple of inches to my height.  

Secondly, believe it or not, it's not as loud in front of the stage. Almost all speakers aim to fill the amphitheater or arena with sound, making the area "down front" slightly less noisy. This is also suitable for older concert-goers like me. 

There is also an energy in the Pit area of a concert that can't be matched in the seats. And you can usually worm your way as close to the front as you want to be if you want to.  

The Author in front of the stage at a recent show.

Granted, there are some drawbacks to all of this as well.  Because I'm not as young as I used to be, I get tired of standing for several hours and need to stretch, and when I finally get home, I need to preemptively take some Advil for the inevitable after-concert aches and pains. 

But this is a good trade-off for the overall experience of being close to the action, seeing up close the artists' expressions as they perform, and occasionally catching a guitar pick, drum stick, or sweat-soaked towel from the band members. 

For the record, I tend to avoid the sweat-soaked towels.  

I've learned something about life by returning as part of the crowd "down front."  Sometimes, it is prudent to find a seat and take in the show from a distance; other times, you ought to be in front of the stage to mix it up. 

There are seasons in our lives when we need a broader perspective, which is challenging to attain when you are sweating it out amid the crowd.  Conversely,  there are seasons in our lives when we need to relinquish the comfort of distance and let ourselves be consumed by the joy of proximity to the "show." 

In my own context, I've watched church members in the various churches I've served live this out in practical terms.  

Some people spend their entire tenure as part of a faith community without getting involved. You'll see them one or two times a month in worship, but that is the sum total of their engagement.   

Essentially, they prefer to find a seat far from the stage and stay there.  

But many more find their way to the Pit, so to speak, and find places to serve, give of their time and talents, and step up when volunteers, leaders, and the like are needed.  They may have started in the seats but found their way down front when they knew it was right.  

The trick is to know when you need a break from the Pit and to find a seat for a while without giving up your desire to move back into the fray when you have the chance again.  

It's a balancing act necessary for us to stay energized, engaged, and in love with life.  

If you have felt that your distance from life's stage has kept you from experiencing all that life has to offer, it may be time to turn in your assigned seat for a general admission ticket.  You are never too old, young, or busy to discover ways to be fully alive.  

May you find your way to the Pit, once again.  And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, now and forever. Amen.