Dancing

You don’t know what you don’t know. I didn’t realize as I made the turn to the Back 9 of life that I would have many opportunities to dance. Not only do we have our daughter getting married and we are making plans to have a band and some dancing at her wedding, but we have many friends who have children getting married. Yes, along with MOBing of my own, I am certainly enjoying “wedding season” like never before because of being in that stage of life where I have many weddings to attend.

This past weekend alone we could have gone to THREE different weddings but it was impossible to be in three places at once so I was forced to pick one. I love a wedding with dancing and, yes, there was some fun dancing at this one. Dancing has been a part of my life…as long as I can remember. It is something I love to do and every chance I get, I dance.

Weddings are definitely a time to celebrate and I think “dancing” is a fabulous way to celebrate with friends. Saturday was no exception…dancing with friends, laughing and enjoying the moment. Seeing people whom I have known for years, but have never seen dance, take to the dance floor was so MUCH FUN!

One couple in particular caught my attention. The husband, Joe, is 84. He and his wife Sandy have been a part of our lives for over 30 years because we go to church together. Joe taught both of our boys 5th grade Sunday school and has actively prayed for our family for years, especially after Thomas was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

I had never seen them dance until Saturday night. I even got to dance with Joe…a moment I will always treasure. I even got to share the dance floor with the young pastor who conducted the wedding ceremony. He and his wife Sara took the dance floor by storm. I loved it!

There was a time in my life when I felt shunned for dancing. Yes, there were people who looked upon dancing as a “sin!” Let me be clear: there is a form of dancing that is inappropriate…but can’t anyone exploit anything?

Dancing, in an of itself, is not a sin. In fact, we find it in the book of Ecclesiastes. Scholars are pretty sure Solomon wrote this book. I remind you that Solomon prayed for wisdom and wrote the book of Proverbs, one of the most practical books in the Bible for living a Christian life. He says in Ecclesiastes 3:4, “…there is a time to mourn and a time to DANCE.”

The whole book of Ecclesiastes, summed up in a few words, is this: “Without God, there is no sense to be made out of our lives. All is empty and hopeless, and meaningless.” Our earthly “labor” will continually frustrate and disappoint us if we seek it as an end to itself.

So for me…I have a tremendous amount of things to “dance” about…the first and most important reason…is that I have been saved through grace, not of myself lest any man should boast. I live in Christ and He lives in me. Anyone can have this reason to dance…I call it “joy in the Lord!” Inviting Jesus into your heart…just accepting Him as Lord. Allowing His Holy Spirit to enter your life and heart…can indeed give a new meaning to the word DANCE!

You see, none of us will ever be worthy. We are all “flawed” people in need of a Savior. It is just a matter of a simple prayer…of confessing my/your/our sin and asking Jesus to come into our life. WE don’t have to know all of scripture or have been raised in church or have had Christian parents in order for Jesus to be your Savior. It doesn’t matter what you have done in life…nothing is too hard for God.

It isn’t about what we bring to the “dance” floor. It’s about the finished work of Christ on the cross. It’s about accepting His invitation to dance a new dance, a new life in Christ. So many won’t get out there and dance because they are afraid. Don’t let fear stand in the way. Accept His hand today.

“‘But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Matthew 9:13).

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).

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