Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat

It’s the second Sunday in Advent. I’ve spent the last week singing, listening to, Christmas songs. Many highlight Advent themes – peace, joy, hope, love, faith…

Last night, on Strictly Come Dancing, one couple danced to ‘Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat’. I wondered. What if we think of this as a Christmas song?

For the people all said sit down, sit down, you’re rockin’ the boat…

The Christmas narrative is all about people whose boat was rocked. Angels appearing unexpectedly, a pregnant teenage girl, a village rocked by scandal, a long worrying journey, an unsupported young mother, children murdered, a refugee family fleeing for their lives… And somewhere God’s rocking the boat

The Jesus story continues with discomfort, awkwardness, pain… far from ‘tidings of comfort and joy’. People say sit down, stop your boat-rocking; God continues on His mission of boat-rocking.

‘Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat’ is from ‘Guys and Dolls’. A group of gambling, drinking men find themselves with pious Christians at a prayer meeting. The two groups of people don’t mix. It’s a very awkward situation.

Gambler Nicely-Nicely Johnson sings, recounting a dream about boarding a boat to Heaven… If he’s to join with Christians, with his life-style, there would be significant boat-rocking… He’s told to sit down and stop rocking the boat.

I dreamed last night I got on the boat to heaven
And by some chance I had brought my dice along
And there I stood and I hollered “Someone SAVE me”
But the passengers, they knew right from wrong.
For the people all said sit down, sit down, you’re rockin’ the boat

This Advent messages of peace, joy, love and hope can result in a smooth ride where we can sit down and avoid boat-rocking. The Christmas message also includes those who will stand up and risk the discomfort of boat-rocking.

In Guys and Dolls gambling, drinking men are changed, transformed by Christians who dare to rock the boat. I’m praying for the wisdom and the courage to know when to stand up and rock boats this Christmas.