A couple weeks ago, our church selected me to become an Elder and part of the process included an "installation" during the service. They called me to the front and I answered some questions, vows. Then, I was asked to kneel and all the elders gathered around me and prayed. As I kneeled, my perspective shifted immediately. I had been consciously standing straight (as my mom taught me). Hands clasped. Still. In control. Respectful. And, I thought, humble...
Then I was asked to kneel. When you get on your knees in front of alot of people, and with people standing around you, the feeling changes. It's a submissive position. A humbling position. A good position.
We aren't a church that does alot of kneeling. I don't know why some churches kneel more than others. I'm sure some do it so much that it may lose it's meaning. Our's probably doesn't do it often enough.
It's so easy to see our surroundings from the perspective of standing up straight. It's how we normally present ourselves. We've been taught to stand up straight. "Be professional". Act with authority. Be strong.
BUT, when I was on my knees in front of the congregation, I think I had the best perspective for serving in the role of elder. AND, I think that may be true of my role as husband, father, business owner, friend...
We can't always be on our knees literally but we can make an effort to make it the perspective from which we serve.
