PDA (Public Displays of Affection)

By Robin Caldwell

The woman walking in front of me slowed her pace abruptly causing me to almost run into her heels. We were leaving work; making mad dashes for the street, and trying to take one step closer to home.

Peering over her shoulder, I saw the reason why she slowed her stride. A man was lying prostrate in front of a taxi. I thought he had been hit by a car because he was so still and covering his head with his hands. Maybe she thought the same.

In a second, he uncoiled his body and was up on his feet. He carefully picked up and rolled up a rug—his prayer rug. Judging from his former position I assumed he was praying towards Mecca. He mumbled something quietly and returned to his cab. The cabdriver was a Muslim who took the time to say his evening prayers on a busy downtown street.

It was obvious he felt no shame, inhibition, or embarrassment. As soon as I realized I was staring, I turned my head and regained my forward march.

My God doesn’t require us to do that, I mused in my head. However, I reckoned, my God would probably prefer that we did show some semblance of public displays of affection (PDA) for him.

Admiration for the cabdriver’s devotion swelled within me. He was foreign with no regard for our western reserve that frowns on public displays of religious affection. Religion is a very private and personal thing relegated for home and houses of worship; right?

If so, then why did I feel inadequate in my public expressions of faith? Why did I suddenly wonder what if…? What if God asked me to bow prostrate on that same street at that same time? Would I resist or obey?

Knowing me, I’d vacillate as to whether or not I heard correctly or from God at all. (My indecision is infamous.) Then I’d do the Bible test, weigh if the directive lined up with the Word of God, which would waste a few more precious minutes. And, most likely, I would continue walking, praying God would forgive me.

I know many people who, if presented with the same hypothetical, would answer, “I’d obey.” Bravo to them, but in reality I don’t think they would obey. They’d walk away too for fear of being viewed as a zealot or as just plain crazy.

You know, I don’t recall ever witnessing a Christian showing the cabdriver’s devotion outside of church or home. I’ve seen many preach the Gospel on the street, a form of devotion, but I’ve never seen anyone publicly worship like that Muslim man. It leaves me pause to think.

We will lower our heads and pray over a meal in a restaurant in a heartbeat. But, what is the impetus for this PDA? Are we doing it to impress onlookers with our holiness or to really show devotion to God? Or, do we do it to prevent food poisoning like a friend of mine?

Jesus informed His followers to not pray as hypocrites who pray standing in the church and on street corners to be seen by men (Matthew 6:5). He warned them to avoid self-aggrandizing and self-righteous displays of religiosity, which direct attention to the person praying as opposed to directing attention to God.

Jesus’ main concern was that our holiness and godliness be expressed in our behavior and treatment of others. Yet for all He said in that passage, He never discouraged genuine PDA. He never said leave the worship in church or at home. His point was simple: Worship to impress ME not men.

Though the cabdriver probably knew people would gawk at him, as I did, it is my belief that his motives were sincere, pure and focused. He genuinely wanted to please the god he prayed to on that street.

Twenty or so feet away from him was a park and I thought about sitting on a bench in quiet meditation one day. I could do that without drawing attention to myself. But what if…what if I got on my knees, bowed my head, and lifted my arms in praise?

God could handle the PDA, but could I?