‘What he’s trying to say is ...’
Not long after DVD and Blu-Ray became popular ways of releasing and retailing a movie, producers of this form of media realised that because discs were so thin, it was easy to package together two or even three discs in a pack still smaller than a chunky video tape box. For some movie releases, a second disc in the pack would include what was called a ‘director’s commentary’.
This was the full movie but with the director adding comments as it went along. As the camera panned in on two actors, you’d hear the director say things like: “Notice when Tom delivers his first line, he then smiles just ever so slightly – this is because he’d got the line wrong in the previous four takes!”, or, “It took us several tries to get the lighting and shadows right on the background scenery here.”
A director’s commentary offered insight into what we could see and hear was happening; the director would speak over what was happening and offer their unique take on what was occurring.
Through my years of preaching, I’ve had times when a member of my corps would, week after week, provide the ‘director’s commentary’ while I was preaching.
I would preach and see them suddenly lean over to their neighbour, as they were still looking at me, and say something; then the neighbour would nod or smile or even say something back. They could do this a dozen times during a sermon while they were looking at me.
At some corps, I’ve had people doing this who – with great respect – are older and have hearing issues and don’t realise how loud they’re ‘whispering’ to their neighbour. A conversation might go like this:
“Ooo, I don’t know that he got that right; I don’t think that’s what Jesus said at all.” “No, and he seems a little uncertain himself.” “Yes, perhaps he’s had a busy week and didn’t have time to prepare fully.” “Yes, I think you’re right, he seems to ...”
At this stage, I feel like stopping preaching and saying: “Do you realise I can hear every word you’re saying?”
At some corps, I’ve also had a Muttley. Some of you will recall Muttley from the cartoon The Wacky Races; he was the dog partner to the villainous Dick Dastardly. Best known for his wheezing laugh, when exasperated, Muttley would mutter and grumble unintelligibly, something to the effect of: “Snazza razza fashin rashin rippin rabble.”
Muttleys are the people you can hear muttering all through the sermon, but you can’t make out a word they’re saying. There are times I’ve thought, “Well, at least they can’t be criticising me – they haven’t heard a word I’ve said for the past 15 minutes!”
Who gives the director’s commentary on the sermon at your corps each Sunday? Who is the Muttley?
Perhaps I just need to change my mindset. Perhaps I’ve got it wrong and, as I’m preaching, they’re praying out loud for me. If that’s the case, I’d just ask them to throw in an ‘Amen’, as I’m concluding the message. God bless them, I say. God bless them.
– Major Mal Davies is the Assistant Divisional Commander for the Victoria Division.
