There’s no denying that I’m a nerd. I play the clarinet. I have our monthly budgets for the last 12 years in a binder to revisit. I want the Anne of Green Gables eight book collection for Christmas and I love solitaire almost as much as I adore strategy board games.
Opposite of things I love is television. It annoys my husband, but I struggle to find something to watch that I really enjoy. I lose interest as my mind wanders to things I could be doing instead – like cleaning or painting a door.
When the stars align and I do find a show I particularly enjoy, Franklin and I binge watch. I found one such series this month with the Netflix original The Crown.
It’s hard to truly imagine what life around the royal family might be like as I’ll certainly never be close enough to a monarch to learn the ins and outs of expected etiquette. As we enjoyed the ten episodes, I began to really take note of the small formalities.
No one was to eat at the table until The Queen took the first bite. No one walked ahead of The Queen. You were to come when you were summoned and you left when She deemed the conversation to be over. Her closest advisors kissed Her hand and bowed when they entered Her presence and remained standing while discussing matters of state. When you spoke of Her in public, you were to do so with gravity.
While there was wheeling and dealing behind The Queen’s back, her position begged complete deference and those in opposition were often snubbed and exposed for their lack of support. For the constitutionally minded English, The Crown Really Does Matter.
This week I was catching up on some Bible study. One question led me to really ponder The Crown even more deeply. In reference to the first four of The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), the author asked me to be honest about which I struggle with the most. The third (“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”) hit me like a ton of bricks.
Before I’m deposed, let me explain. I do NOT take The Lord’s name in vain in the way I hear it cursed in the Stripes parking lot while pumping gasoline. But I realized that I do not give Him, and His position, the deference He deserves.
As a triune God, His presence is always with me. As I move about my daily tasks, I magnify my preferences as I reluctantly come when He calls. I argue and justify when He speaks. I go behind His back for advice and seek alliances, often usurping His position.
The nerd in me will have the following on repeat this week. May The Crown be at the forefront of our minds as we move into this beautiful Christmas Season.
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all!
Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all!
Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!
