Audience of One

“Hey, could you do me a favor?” she lovingly asked me…

“Could you not tell that story to other people?”

The story my wife was referring to was about how we had spent one of our date nights together. I had told some friends about this great evening that we had spent together watching TV and was a little bit surprised that she had asked me not to share it ever again with anyone because it was our story.


I found her request to a bit strange because I hadn't shared anything that seemed too intimate to me. In fact, the story wasn’t risqué and it didn't involve anything sexual or intimate. It didn’t include nudity or anything really…. And yet to her it was a story that was private and personal and not to be shared with anyone. 


In many respects her request is so different from the world we live in today of Instagram and Snapchat and Facebook and Blogs and Twitter and texting and sex tapes….


A world where people are frequently taking photographs of themselves each and every opportunity they get; or even taking photographs of last night’s dinner…  


And, if they are not posting selfies, then they are communicating every thought or opinion or talking about an event or celebrity or politician or favorite team or athlete…


I had shared the story, our story, with another couple because it was a good illustration of how…well… I can’t explain and I really can’t tell you anything more because she asked me not to… and because it was our story and it wasn’t to be shared with anyone else…ever again because it was meant for an audience of one. 


In time, I will admit, did understand her point because I, too, have areas of my life that I don’t share with very many people; in fact, many times these areas are shared only with my audience of one. These areas include my life as a guitar player, which is usually only played for an audience of one. 


Over the years, many people have tried to get me to play outside of the ‘basement’ or ‘garage’ where my playing was only shared with other musicians that I had gotten together with to jam. Many times I have been invited to play at church on a worship team.  

On several occasions I have been enticed with; “you should bring your guitar and play with us at…” But I don’t because (at least for this stage of my life) my music is meant for an audience of one. 

I have heard many Christian musicians say that some of their best songs had never been recorded because they were meant for an audience of one. Many have told stories of songs written as the musician sat in his or her private setting and played songs of worship to the One who made them. 


Afterwards, they realized that the songs that flowed during their time of devotions were private and personal and not to be shared with anyone; ever. 


As I write this, I ponder how many experiences do we have (that we are so quick to broadcast) that were not meant to be shared with anyone but the person we were spending time with?


How many times have we shared our experiences via the internet and never stopped to ask the person we were with whether this was meant for an audience of one?


Christians, how many experiences do we have with our Heavenly Father that we are so quick to broadcast? Perhaps they were meant for just an audience of one which is the Father and us individually...

This includes private times in the prayer closet as well as at church. I have seen (in my opinion) way too many people taking selfies and posting them from worship experiences at church.  

Question; why would you take a selfie during a public worship experience that includes a community of Believers? Just a thought…


Perhaps we can learn from my error in sharing my story that included my wife with another. Perhaps we should ask for discernment as we sort through what is to be shared and what is meant to be treasured for an audience of One.

“I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places that you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.” (Isaiah 45:3 NKJV)

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:6 NKJV)