Sofa Theology

For the first time since we left Clemson on August 26th, I'm sitting on a sofa.  This probably seems insignificant to most, but after reliving childhood sleepovers in the living room since our arrival, it feels like heaven.  Why? you ask...  Eight nights in hotels [some of which had sofas, but they were always folded out to their bed form] plus five nights here with no sofa.  Admittedly, this post comes from the 'first world' problem perspective entirely and I realize that living without a sofa is really not something to whine about.  The funny thing is, however, that as we've piled pillows on the floor and struggled to get up off the floor after putting together bunk beds and the like, I've realized that sofas are deeply personal.  And in my maybe twisted sense of looking at things, I also realize sofa selection really mirrors my theology.  Hang with me here - I get that this sounds bizarre and distinctly 'church nerdy' despite my not having classical theological training.

Here are my thoughts:
1 - I'm really, really grateful we have a sofa now.  I've really missed having one.  I just need to acknowledge, first, my sense of gratitude for having the ability to enjoy creature comforts.

2 - Choosing a sofa requires trying out different ones to find the right one.  Perhaps this is where the notion of 'sofa theology' first hit me - the process of trying to find the right sofa mirrored my family's search for the theology that best fit us.  We had kind of a Baskin Robbins approach to denominations and I learned a lot in that process.  It was very affirming to finally land on Presbyterian(USA) because that 'fit' our family and how we approach the world - it was also helpful to experience, first hand, that I resonated with pieces of each tradition we experienced.

3 - I like sofas that are comfortable yet firm - ones that let you snuggle down to watch a movie comfortably but that don't let you stay in the exact position for too long without needing to move around a little bit.  I like that about theology too - I like finding a support system where I feel like I fit in, but I also like approaching faith intellectually and being pushed to explore outside my comfort zone.

4 - Sofas aren't traditionally meant for just one person - and neither is faith.  There's usually room for more on a sofa and that brings inherent intention for community.  Some of my family's best memories have taken place around our sofa/living room - because we were together; laughing, sleeping, snuggling, etc.  Some of our hardest times have occurred in that same setting; family meetings, hard news, challenging conversations, differing opinions.  But there was something safe about those moments - we knew we were all going to be there after the dust settled and we could trust that family community to still be intact regardless.  That's what theology brings to me and my family - community, support, safety and challenge.

While I admit that this is not the next big wave in theological literature and that I won't be making millions off a book deal, I do believe the metaphor has merit (at least in my little world).  And tonight I'm really glad to have a sofa back in our midst - it's comfy for us and we've already christened it by watching a movie.  Philip and I are hopeful that our necks and backs will seem normal after a few days with our new addition and the cuddles with the kids have already made our new apartment feel more like home.  All in all I'm happy to have glimpsed my faith from a new perspective - however bizarre it may be.  It's good to feel home and it's good to no longer be sitting on the floor.