I've come to think that some people must think that preachers are blind.
I'm certainly not blind while I'm preaching, although at times I wish I was.
It apparently doesn't enter the minds of some folks that when I'm preaching I'm standing on an elevated platform, staring directly at them. Some of the things I see can be discouraging (texting, passing notes, whispering jokes). Some, though, are encouraging (people turning in their Bibles, nods of affirmation, people writing down notes). Others are distracting (people getting up to leave, people staring at a child making noise).
Now let me make mention of the fact that I'm not angry with the distracting and discouraging folks just because they aren't listening to me. Actually, my heart breaks for them
