I Hope You Dance

One of my favorite and least favorite things to do is dancing. I’m not a natural at dancing but, of course, I married the dancing queen. Man, can Becky dance. She was trained by her father and she has a more natural rhythm than Ricky Ricardo. Go figure!

In my teenage years, I was on the stage playing guitar in a rock and roll band all over Phoenix, Arizona. So, I never learned to dance. When Becky and I dance it is like a Hugo dancing with a Ferrari! It’s not fair! Mind you, I’m an expert at the hold me close, sway back and forth, and slow side step stuff. But that works for one or two slow dances and then I can’t fake it anymore. When you marry the dancing queen, two slow dances are not enough. Becky likes that commercial that says, “But wait Ed, there’s more!”

I’m thinking about giving in and, torture of all tortures, taking dancing lessons. I’m going to become vulnerable, teachable and a follower for the sake of the dancing queen. I probably will like it. Don’t tell Becky.

I’ve started thinking about dancing. It is incredible to me that even though Becky can dance circles around me, she follows me. I’m amazed that when I move my hand forward or backward, she follows. When I step on her foot accidentally, she says it’s her fault because it’s her job to follow. That is her role and responsibility on the dance floor. If I step on her foot anywhere else, I’m toast!

Let’s consider this. Dancing is a type or shadow of the way we follow or abide by God. We are free beings under Divine guidance! An unknown writer captured this idea perfectly.

“When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing ‘dance’ at the end of the word. I remembered 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 together with the music. One leads with gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. Then it’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw ‘G,’ I thought of God, followed by ‘us and ‘i.’ ‘God,’ ‘us and ‘i’ dance. God, you, and I dance.”

To receive God’s guidance, we have to become willing to trust that the Lord of the Dance is gently leading, still proceeding, guiding us to His perfect Light! Like I said earlier, I’m starting to enjoy dancing. It reminds me of God’s role as a leader in our lives. As I follow the Lord of my own free will, she follows me of her own free will. I have the privilege as well as the responsibility of leading her, not driving her, in the dance of life. We are both free beings under Divine guidance. I hope you dance.

Ed Delph