August 25, 2010
-
{plastic church people}
This morning while cleaning up the breakfast dishes…
Emma was behind me playing on the table with her Polly Pockets and Ben’s G.I. Joe’s.
When I was finished she asked if I would play too.So, I sat down.
And following her lead, within all of about 10 minutes,
our little plastic people had –
been to camp.
played duck duck goose.
hide and go seek.
rode motorcycles.
broke up with a boyfriend.
had a mother who”dieded.”
and visited a father in the hospital who, “dot shot in da woods and toodn’t walk.”
I went on to some other chores after awhile.
Later, when I walked back through the kitchen I heard what appeared to be a church service now going on….I usually never think of my video camera till after a moment has passed.
but for some reason I thought of it.
Maybe it was because I was noticing that her words are getting clearer…
She’s sounding more grown up…
And I found myself kinda missing that little lisp…
those hard to identify words.Took me a minute to locate where the camera even was and dig it out -
But here’s some of the bits and pieces I caught:
Tonight after I downloaded the pictures I snapped of Emma’s imaginary church,
I found myself a bit amused as I was looking through them by some of the expressions looking back at me.Suddenly. I sat up a little straighter and looked a little closer..
I think I’ve seen some of these plastic people before.
Check out the guy in red…
ever seen that face in your church before?
I think maybe he doesn’t like the guy keeping his shades on during the service.
Some people go to such extremes to hide who they really are, don’t they?
OR… before we judge him so harshly -
Ever have the feeling you need an oxygen tank to be around some people?
Yes. there are times you feel that scared. that intimidated. that fearful.
Not sure about this guy.
he might just have a question…
or simply be worshiping.
could need to use the bathroom..
or maybe he wants to point out there’s another guy with shades on during the service!
Apparently the girl in the yellow fainted cause her friend wore a bikini to church.
But it’s okay – the guy next to her has on his “immodesty buffer wear.”
ah, now we know what all those shades are about! 
The song, “Stained Glass Masquerade” came to mind, and I googled the lyrics.
As I read through the words they stirred and convicted my heart.
And I want to be sure to say that even in making light of some things above I'm quick to remember-
I've played the masquerade all too often and all too well many times throughout my life.
I've been that scowly faced person before.
wanting to point out others faults.
slap my hand over my mouth in self righteous disbelief.
worn the biggest astronaut helmet I could hide under.
and left others lugging their oxygen tanks around behind them from my cutting words, or worse yet...
unspoken ones. the ones that speak loudest through my prideful, arrogant, self elevated spirit towards them.I really want to live mask free. truly.
And not just in a, that’s the thing we’re supposed to say kind of way…
But in a, even though I know there will be tons more times I’m going to get it wrong.
mess up. play the part. participate in the masquerade.
HIS grace will continue to work. to draw me.
to show me again and again…
it’s not about getting it all right outwardly it’s in being right with Him inwardly – in that kind of way, i want to live mask free!Who we really are is where only God sees.
Life flows from the heart.
Which is why we are called human beings.
Not human doings!
{words to song}
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong
So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small
¸.·´¸.·¨) ¸.·¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·´ (¸.·¨¯`♥ amber
Comments (35)
Lovely, my dear. We could all learn from Ems.
very good, ambs. so true to life. and me. been on both sides of the church. the in and the out.
hope you are doing well, girly. and the little girly inside, too. not tooo many more weeks left, right?
luv ya. miss ya. think about you lots. and breathe prayers for you.
first of all, I’m thinkin’ that preacher must be really sore on Monday mornings….all that dancin’ around and woops….off the table he went. And then I’m thinkin’ maybe you’re pentacostal. JK!
I loved this post,
and the way you think.
I think I’ve probably taken a turn being one of each of those people at least once.
Love you!
So cute!
yep… been some of those people, seen some of those people….. (except the bikini lady *shock*
) great post and something to think about. I just think we need to get our 2 lil girls together, they would get LOTS of imagining and fun done….. McK has been playing with Pollies for hours lately… but she doesn’t have the cool GI Joes from a brother to add! ((hugs))
When your {plastic church people} title came up on my subscriptions, I immediately thought of the song, “Stained Glass Masquerade.” Oh! And there it is!
I was thinking as I was reading that I’ve taken a turn in the many roles and with the many faces…
and how life and God and God and life are s-l-o-w-l-y getting this girl to a place
where I can “see” my own dang log first…second…and lastly.
Without pointing out the other guy’s forest. I mean, speck of sawdust.
But then gasp. Reading on…I realized how NOT there I am.
Gloria alluded that she has worn a bikini to church at least once.
oh my.
well. now.
lol.
great, thought provoking post Amber. thank you.
“Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small”
Great post! I had to giggle when I saw the bikini girls in the pews.
Great analogy, though. How true and sometimes I wonder which one I am….
Great food for thought. Your “plastic people church” really isn’t too far off from the “flesh and bones” ones. (sad , but true)
How CUTE of Emma, how clever of you! You see a spiritual analogy in everything, even a Polly Pocket/G.I. Joe church service, I LOVE it! What a great post. There is much truth to those plastic church people, and like Carsonsmom2 said, I wonder which one I am? =/ Thanks for taking the time to come up with something so creative to share and encourage us with! (Thanks to Emma too!) =)
What a post with a whallop!!! I love it.
The way Emma talks reminds me of how my Sarah talked. She would say, “My name is Tharah and I’m free.” (instead of three) she said TH’s all the time- but couldn’t say them when the word actually started with a “th” 
Sweet memories.
What a creative, yet applicable post!
.
@down_onthefarm - the gloria comment is tooo much… please tell me she’s more grown up then that????? YOU are so so funny and i love it. I needed that laugh this morning. thanks.
Amber, may i come to the Hutchin church? I love the kind of people you have… because you know, i’ve been/am there and so want to live freely, mask free and it’s something i’m really struggling with.
Your last two posts have litterally been the “she wrote this for me” posts… i’m getting tears again. I so.long. to stay and sit at the foot of the cross. / to.see.people through Jesus’ eyes/ to communicate love.not a feeling of judgement/you aren’t worthy…. to embrace each person for WHO.THEY.ARE. And I know that only as i sit at the foot can his personality become more my personality… to be poured out of who HE is in me. And I know that only then can i find and understand the “freely I have given, now freely give.”
You are beautiful girl, but i especially love hearing your heart, and being encouraged knowing that others are able to live out of that freedom. YOU give me courage. Thanks.
This is an awesome post, and isn’t it amazing the little things God can use to talk to us when we are attentive to Him?? Very good, I love it!
Wow! Good post, Amber.
@down_onthefarm - yeah….I’m thinkin’ it must have been one of the Sundays you missed. Kind of surprised Myron didn’t tell ya!
Thank you! This is such a great reminder to look at ourselves and others the way that Christ does.
Love you!!
WONDERFUL post, Amber. Thanks for sharing those thoughts–makes the song just that much more vivid…I’m sure I’ll remember these little plastic people when I hear it now.
Magnificent ! Excellent parabel quality story-telling. I understood you all too well, beautifully done. You are a good observer in the self-education by your child…isn’t that what it is all about: that we, women,mothers,parents understand !? ( coming from a lifelong teacher it seems to me you are in this a hell, no a heaven of a teacher&student, Amber ).
I love your child.
Lieve groeten
Godeliva van Ariadone
Wonderful post….lots to think about in something as simple as child’s play.
The video is adorable.You’ll be happy you thought of it years from now.
Clarification- thought to video it is what I mean.
This was funny.
My favorite part was when you obviously were peeking during the prayer and had to be told, “close your eyes!” Dear, sweet Emma! Tell me again…how old is she? Precious.
I just charged my dinosaur of a video camera for the first time in quite a while. I figured my Emma deserves a little camera time!
Emma is so precious. I loved her service…and all the characters that came to church. Did you close your eyes while filming? lol. What a great parable you tell to us Amber, and with such humor. May we all learn to keep our eyes on Jesus, and continue to encourage each other up!
I love the analogies you pull out of simple, everyday situations… You just amaze me, because you are so so beautiful outside, but are just as beautiful inside too. Usually when someone is so beautiful like you, they’re perfect snobs, and you are the farthest thing from that! So, I think your beautiful heart just emphasizes your external beauty. You are just a *sweetheart.* And I keep praying for you and the baby! Still hanging tight with that? When can we start praying that she’ll actually be born?
Amber,
Resting and waiting with the littlest girl must be good for you… you are banging out the best post’s…so insightful.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I was listening to a playlist earlier this week and heard that song for the first time. For some reason I keep thinking about it and now you blogged about it. Maybe I need to try harder to see beyond the ‘plastic’ part of people. Thanks for this blog!!!!!
I love the prayer….thank-you Lord for stuff like that.
Hi Amber! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a note the other day! I’ve been VERY busy – not ignoring you. I also, just now, read all of your last week’s worth of posts to catch up. Darling video of Emma.
I love the song “I Had A Dream” especially when sung by Andrea McArdle on YouTube. She was the original Annie on Broadway, years ago.
Hugs to you, friend.
I’ve seen some fainting in my day.
And nooooo, I was not always the cause
(as far as i know)
Emma is “a precious gift from The Lord” as Shivy would say. She is such a little sweetheart!!
That song has meant a lot to me over the past few years. There were times when I didn’t want to go to church, becuase I didn’t feel up to putting on the appropriate “performance”. I had learned to play the part long ago. I remember thinking that church was supposed to be a haven of refreshment and sharpening, so why did I feel like I had to suit up for battle just to go to church?
I know that I have painted on a “ministry smile” even when my heart was broken, just so people wouldn’t know that I wasn’t up to standard…
Thanks for sharing. Living mask-free is never easy. I think there will always be a part of us that wants to project perfection. But I think the world needs to see us for what we truly are, great sinners that have be redeemed by an even greater Savior. Only then will they see Christ in us.
Love you and your awesome posts!! <3
Em
This was hilarous!
loved the church service!!
Nikki loved listening to Emma singing “If you’re happen THEN you know it.” I got a kick out of this post, but there is such a great truth that lies underneath too! I love that song. So true. And we STILL fall into the trap of thinking we’re the only ones.