Ward.

Since you asked, your Green Room blog years ago has been very meaningful to me since the passing of my late husband almost 5 years ago.  While grieving, I felt I was in the Green Room and my earnest prayer was to be released to have a purpose again.  By the way in time, God did release me when he brought a new love into my life, not what I was asking but God knew my heart. Thank you for your Green Room “perspective.”

~ Pat

Southern California

 

Why do they call it the “green room?”

 

I remember one of the first times I was asked to speak at a large conference and was told that, before my session, I should meet the ministry team in the “green room.”

 

“The green room.” Really?

Now I knew about prayer rooms and classrooms and board rooms, but a “green room?” What was that about? And how would I find it? Was it a room everyone else knew about because it was painted, you know, green? That seemed too obvious. There had to be something more, but I hesitated to ask. I got the feeling if I didn’t know what or where the “green room” was, I probably shouldn’t be speaking at this conference in the first place.

 

So I found a young twenty-something, holding a guitar in his hand, and asked if he knew where I might find the “green room.” “Oh, sure,” he said with a smile, “come with me. I’m headed there now.” (Thank God for Millennials!)

 

Again, I thought about asking someone, once I arrived, why they called this the “green room.” It was not green at all; the walls were eggshell white and the carpet a neutral gray. But this was no time to display my ignorance, so I carried on as though I knew all about it. But being the curious type, later on when I had a moment, I looked it up. Ken Stein, Executive Director for the League of Historic American Theatres (https://kenstein64.wordpress.com/) is the one who filled me in at last.

 

According to Mr. Stein, it seems a “green room” is a room in a theatre or other public venue (i.e., in my experience mentioned here, a church) reserved to accommodate musicians or speakers who sooner or later will be on stage. Who knew? Obviously a lot of people. Still, I found it interesting.

 

An ‘agreeing room?’

The origin of the term “green room” is unknown, but it’s usage was first recorded in 1701. Some say the color green had to do with early stage lighting. Green is also thought by psychologists to be a calming color, however they didn’t come up with this color theory until the 20th century, so too late for the “green room.” Some say the term originated in a London theatre converted from office buildings. The room behind the stage had been used to cut deals and became known as the ‘agreeing room,’ the phrase being corrupted over the years.

 

It’s most accepted origin hearkens back to Shakespearean times when actors prepared for their performances in a room or an open space filled with green plants and shrubs. The central space used as the “acting area” or platform was often covered with grass and surrounded by banks of spectators. Indoors, a green stage cloth was used for a tragedy. (Which of these best describes your home or your church: an ‘agreeing room’ or a green stage cloth?) Let’s put together what we know so far.

 

A borrowed name.

The “green room” is thus a room on the way to the green.

It’s a term borrowed in recent times by the church world from the theatrical world to identify a place where one prays and practices and makes final preparations before going out to face the audience. This makes us cool. I think.

 

And so, as another New Year approaches, I am heading for the “green room” again. It is time for me to pray and practice and prepare, to set goals and strategize with the Holy Spirit before stepping out onto life’s stage for another 365 day performance. How about you?

 

My three “green room” questions for 2017 (and again in 2020)

Who is God in my life right now? Who am I in this powerful new season of life? What shall I do with the years that remain?

Come join me in the “green room.” Get your new year started off the right!

 

~ 0 ~

 

I was surprised by the responses this article initially received. Obviously there were others as clueless as I, but Pat’s comment (above) I think says it best. It is my pleasure on my sabbatical summer to reprise for you all the “Green Room,” hoping that having read this, you dear reader may be encouraged to find fresh perspective and spiritual guidance in your own personal “Green Room.”