Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain. Have you ever played in the rain as a child? I have, in fact I believe I mentioned in one of my earlier writings about becoming totally soaked while walking to the bus and having to go to school in a rain-soaked dress. Sometimes even now when it rains, I often wonder what it would feel like to play in the rain again. Passers by would probably think I was a little on the weird side but the next time it is raining, if you know where I live, and you are the least bit curious, you might drive by my house and find me being a child again playing and dancing in the rain.
I have learned that life really is intended to be filled with fun and enjoyment. That was a foreign concept to me for most of my life. In fact until the last few years, I didn’t really know what fun felt like; much less know the joy of dancing. Dancing was always portrayed as evil but in every instance when I saw someone dancing whether it was ballroom, waltz, line, two step or whatever, the participants were having such fun.
With my upbringing, when some years ago, dance was introduced into the church as part of worship, I was very piously skeptical at first thinking "Oh my goodness, how far have we allowed ourselves to stray from the path?" I was many times left in a quandary because I would allow myself to acknowledge there was total worship and communication with the almighty but can this really be okay? I gradually began to listen and trust the voice speaking to me. I was able to step over the obstacle of doubt and judgment and see a loving father asking me for a first dance. Can you imagine how awkward I felt at first and still do at times? Me dancing in the arms of my father?
I have seen pictures of little girls standing on their daddy’s feet dancing. I have also seen a dad dancing with their little girls on his knees because he is so much bigger. My heavenly father is continually inviting me to dance with him and I know he has to bend very low because he is so much bigger than me.
I have a very dear friend, Michele, who is a worshipper. When I first met her several years ago, I found myself in total rapture as I watched her and her daughter as they worshipped. Michele is a dancer both in worship and in a party environment like a wedding reception. She becomes totally lost in dance whether it is in the arms of her heavenly father or dancing by herself on the dance floor. Just this past week I saw her dancing totally enraptured with her infant son Zachery in her arms. Michele, I am watching you girl.
About 4 ½ years ago I started a life management seminar which lasted for four months. I will never forget how totally out of place I felt. I saw most of the participants dancing and having fun. My how I wished I could dance. I didn’t even know how to start moving my feet. Gradually I began to move just a little but always very conscious about how I might look to others. Wow, is that a mirror to my life, always worried about what others might think. Since Pathways, my feet haven’t stopped. Each time I hear music, I start to move. I will tell you I am no better at dancing than I was a few years ago, but it sure is fun to be free to dance. There is a line of a worship song we sing at church that says, I am free to dance, I am free to run. I really am free to be.
I challenge you to dance. Forget about what others may think. It’s all about you. Whether you are dancing with your heavenly father or with a special someone unlock the chains that have you bound and learn to dance. I recently took a couple of lessons to learn the two-step and the waltz. It was very challenging at first but very fun as I suspected. Try it. Dance just may be your thing.
