There would have been many times in my life that I would have rather jumped overboard into the polluted river than dance. But I was invited and it is rude to turn down invitations such as this in other cultures. So, I danced. And I must say I enjoyed it. The Khmer type of dance was almost easy. Easy is a stretch but it is a repetitive 4 step movement with your feet and a fluid motion with your hands, also repeating. This was the same movement to any song, fast or slow. So, I didn’t look that ridiculous. At least in my head I didn’t.
I think I love dancing because of the freedom, the elegance, the beauty. I think it is very spiritual as well. To be led and twirled about by the One that is leading your steps, simply following His lead and dancing about and enjoying the spins and twirls. There was no twirling about tonight, only 4 steps and repetitive hand motions. But the 4 steps allowed me freedom that I normally wouldn’t allow myself. One reason I don’t like dancing is because of the attention that it brings, almost invites. For those that are elegant and graceful and lovely, the attention is welcome. For those that don’t fit those categories, the attention can almost feel like a train wreck. So, mostly feeling as those I am in the latter categories I stay clear. But tonight I felt different. Sure, I tried to get out of it. But it would have made a bigger scene to continue my decline. And so my 4 step movements increased with each nautical mile. And so did the smile on my face. And maybe, the sweat on my brow too! Sorry, Cambodia is the opposite of cold!
I realized tonight as we pulled back to the shore that I am going to miss Cambodia. I think I made an agreement with myself at the beginning of the month that I wouldn’t allow myself to like Cambodia. And with the heat it wasn’t a hard sell. Even more, it wasn’t the Philippines, it is almost time to go home, there are some random terrible smells, etc. But the people here are beautiful and kind. And the culture is so endearing and interesting. And the students we are working with are real people that God is working in and invested in and they love Jesus in a culture that doesn’t, even in families that don’t. I even decided that tomorrow, for our last day of class that I will wear a shirt I told myself I would never wear because why wear something that is so far from the truth. I will wear the ever so popular I (heart) Cambodia t-shirts. Perhaps it took a few 4 steps to feel this way, but I do love Cambodia.
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