The Dance

               Every so often God and I get into some deep talks at around 2 am.  I’d like to share today’s discussion with you.

I can remember watching my daughter dance “just because” when she was a toddler.  I can remember watching in ballet class when she was around 4 or 5 years old.  But my favorite memories are teaching her dance.  It would start with her (literally) standing on my feet as I danced.  Later, she managed her own steps.  We danced at her wedding.  And I also taught others how to dance with her. (No, I did not let the young men stand on my feet!).  So last night, as I was praising God at 2 am, I started thinking about David “dancing before the Lord” (2 Sam 6:14), and God and I had a talk about it (He talked, I listened.  After all, that’s part of being still).

God delights in watching us dance.  Even when we don’t think He’s watching, or aren’t even aware He’s watching, He is.  And he delights.  God delights in our joy (I’m talking here of joy, not necessarily “happiness”.  There are many things we think make us happy, that God isn’t too excited about.  But joy comes from the spirit.)  What may start out for us as joy in a “thing” or “event” becomes magnified into a joy for the dance itself.

God is a gentleman – He wants more than to watch, but He’s not going to just cut in.  He yearns to be invited:  “Dance with me, Daddy!” and He wants us to let Him lead.  Even more than watching us dance with joy, God loves to dance with us in joy.  This is shared love and trust.  This is no longer just a joy of dancing.  It is a joy that comes from dancing with the Lord of the dance.  And when we dance with the Lord we become grace-full, for God is patient and loving in that dance.  He gives us grace when we lose the beat, or make a mis-step, or trip on our own feet, or step on His.  He takes even our mis-steps and somehow incorporates them into the dance and creates something beautiful and timeless that we are a part of.  Something that is overflowing with love and joy.

But God doesn’t stop there.  It is that love and joy that others standing on the sidelines see.  And they hunger for it.  They yearn for it.  And God tells us to invite them in.  God is big enough that the dance is personal, but not individual.  Whatever comes to you mind at this point – line dancing, mosh pit or ballet – God knows the steps.  And He takes them all and somehow combines them through love and grace and power to make a beautiful choreography.  This is love between us and God, and between us and others (Matthew 22:37-40). 

There is a $25 seminary word that describes the Trinity – perichoresis.  It is the idea of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dancing together.  The cool thing is, you’re invited to the dance!