I LOVE TO DANCE

I was a teenager during the late 50’s and 60’s ~ Rock and Roll at its best and I loved it!  I danced more than I walked!  My Mama had a drive-in restaurant with a jukebox, and I danced!  I danced by myself, with strangers, my sister’s boyfriends, doorknobs…you get the picture.

We moved to Miami from Lake Okeechobee when I was 12 years old and we lived next door to a boy cousin that loved to dance as much as I did.  He was 2 years older.  We discovered we were very good.  So good that when I was 14 and he was 16 we were going to be on American Bandstand!  Can you even begin to imagine how exciting that was?  We were in proper attire (I had on 7 colorful crinolines), pumped, confident and on our way…my Daddy was driving us to Miami Beach where the telecasting was.  You’ve run ahead of me haven’t you?  You guessed it – we didn’t make it!  The car broke down in Miami traffic and two hours later we knew we were Has-Beens and our golden opportunity was lost forever!  That didn’t end our dancing craze though.  Larry was my dance date to two of my Proms because I didn’t want to go with some guy who didn’t know how to dance.

The summer following that nightmare, my friend Alice invited me to go to a Christian Camp at Miami Bible Institute.  That summer I met the Lord Jesus and gave Him my life.  I attended a Baptist church and you probably know that Baptists don’t smoke, drink, dance or chew nor go with those who do!  The preacher pointed out more than once the hazards of dancing as a Christian.  Now, I was a really sold out Christian and didn’t hide it; but I now had a huge problem.  I knew that I just couldn’t quit dancing on my own, so I prayed an honest prayer and told The Lord that if He didn’t want me to dance, He had to take the desire away….guess what?  I’ve never danced since!

Don’t jump to the conclusion that God is against dancing.  I asked Him if He didn’t want me to dance.  He knew I couldn’t be an effective witness for Him on the dance floor and gave me other environments that did give Him glory. 

Care to know about my Senior Prom?   I went with the love of my life at that time and you know what…he didn’t know how to dance!  I’ve had 3 husbands and knew it was acceptable to dance with my husband.  You guessed it – none of them danced! 

It’s now 50 years later and I should be too old to “cut the mustard” but somewhere in my physical construction there is still a beat yearning to be expressed in dance.  I even put on my bucket list an empty line that secretly has written:  I’d like to dance one more time with a really good partner who knows how to lead.

At this point I should have some clever ending to my dance story…and I do!  A couple of years ago I received one of those pass it on emails that was quite meaningful and had a catchy title:  Dancing With God.  How about I just let you read it and then you can come to your own conclusion about me and dancing…

Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word..
I remember reading that doing God's will
is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
And everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that,
and lets the other lead,
Both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge
to the back
Or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness -  
Gentle guidance and skill .
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G": I thought of God,

followed by "U" and "I".
"God, "U" and "I" dance."
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
That I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
And mercies are upon you
on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
And to guide you through each season of your life.
If God has done anything for you in your life,
Please share this message with someone else.
Interceding in prayer is one of the best gifts
we give and receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards;
So let's continue to pray for one another.
And I Hope You Dance!

Proverbs 3:5~6 & John 15