I can think of very few things given such an honor as to hold or carry the Creator's most prized work of art, Man. A seat can be simple or overly ornate, but the purpose remains constant: to hold what is most dear to the God of the Universe. We abuse, ignore, and disregard these servants, and we never consider them as anything more than a simple piece of furniture or decoration. The church pew, the kitchen chair, the instructor's stool, and the worn park bench are familiar images to all, but who has truly thanked this silent helper? Who has taken a second out of their day to be thankful for that which has carried us from infancy to old age?
Yes, the seat is an inanimate object that has no will of its own, but it symbolizes something much greater than itself. The chair, in a symbolic sense, has submitted itself to bearing the weight of human kind. The chair does not choose who it will allow to sit but welcomes all to set down their load upon its strong legs. Now, of course, there are those who believe themselves to be strong enough to stand through life and endure all hardships without aid. Maybe they are right, but from what I have seen, those who ignore the offer of rest and peace from the chair will only walk to fall.
Christ submitted Himself to our sin and our weight, to bear it all without question. He is my support, and I gladly sit.
A simplified version of this thought seemed to flash through my mind as I walked past an abused and forgotten park bench in the heart of China town. The bench had history and bore more weight in its life than any man could ever claim. This made me smile and I pulled out my Nikon D70. In a hurry, I quickly lifted the camera to my face, checked my exposure, focused on that silent servant, and, pressing on the little silver button, heard the open and close of my shutter.
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