THE VIEW FROM THE BACK PEW

BY DAN MILLER
(originally posted March 25, 2005)

This is a big weekend for churches. Many will have standing room only.
You'll have to get there early to get a good seat up front.

Personally though, I've always preferred to sit in the back of the church.

The reason might be that I usually arrive late, and the back is the logical place to sit. But it could go beyond that.

When I was a child, my family's church didn't have any type of air conditioning, or even ventilation, and it always seemed a good idea to stay close to the doors where a hint of a breeze helped avoid suffocation.

And it was the same in winter. The church did have a heater, and it was a doozy. The sanctuary was so hot that staying in the back would keep me from excessive heat and sleepiness. It also meant a quicker exit after the benediction and postlude.

Even in school, I always preferred the back of the classroom. Less conspicuous I figured, and less likely to be called on to answer a question.

But lately, in church, I've realized another advantage to the back pew.
You can take a quick visual survey on the latest hair styles. Last Sunday, after looking around the congregation in front of me, I came away convinced that men are wearing their hair slightly longer this year.

Just a couple of years ago, most guys were cutting their hair extremely short..... almost a military buzz cut in some cases. But now, young and old guys are letting the back of their hair go slightly over the collar, and leaving it a little longer on top.
For the older ones, perhaps it's to cover those bald spots on the crowns of their heads.... which you can also get a pretty good view of from the back of the church.

Something else I've noticed..... women are much more likely to attend church alone.
There are, of course, a few men by themselves here and there..... but for the most part, men attend church in the company of their wife, daughter, girlfriend, or mother.

Women and girls don't seem to mind attending church alone. Why? I have no answer.

My wife says it's because the older women simply outlive their husbands.... and the younger women are probably just better people, who likely attend church for the right reasons...... and who don't mind getting out and missing a game on television..... and who feel spiritually enriched by the service....... and who don't sit in the back of the sanctuary checking out haircuts and bald spots!

Probably so.

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