I’m a dancer.
If I’m comfortable around someone (and sometimes not even then), it doesn’t take very long for someone to realize that I kind of sort of really super passionately love dance…
As much as I love dance I still have always had trouble calling myself a dancer. I’ve been fine with saying I love dance, but saying that I am a “dancer” implies that it’s a key component my identity. It’s only been recently that I’ve been coming to terms with this, and admitting that dance is integral to who I am. I think I’ve been hesitant because I know there will come a time where my progress becomes stagnant or my body rebels and I am no longer physically able to do it. All stemming from a fear of failure.
I had the opportunity to teach a beginner’s dance lesson series, and my students taught me probably more than could ever teach them. Each week they came to class with a bursting excitement to dance. They weren’t scared of failure, their passion outweighed any fear. I began to take this to heart. I dance because I love it not to succeed at it.
I started taking lessons when I was the wee age of 3 and I can’t imagine a time in my life when dance won’t play some role. One of my biggest anxieties when getting ready for the World Race was that I was about leaving dance behind. Dance has been an indicator of the state I’m in. The darkest times in my life consistently coincide with a lack of dance in my life. Would leaving dance behind make this adventure a dark part of my life?
A close friend once told me that when I dance I wear my heart on my sleeve. It’s one of the few times that all my walls are down; it’s one of the deepest forms of connection for me. It’s how I connect with others and with my creator.
Dance had a much larger role in Training Camp than I could have imagined. There were scheduled dance battles, dance parties, etc… I can’t tell you how much it warmed my heart.
One of my biggest revelations that week came to me in a vision. In it Jesus comes up behind me takes my arm and says “Come dance with me Rhema”. As we dance, all my focus in on Him and wherever we dance a trail of butterflies is left. I know… it sounds completely cheesy….I thought the same thing when it came to me…but I asked God to reveal what it means to me.
For one, God wants me to dance with Him. There’s something about dancing that expresses freedom and joy unlike anything else- just look to King David dancing “with great abandon” (2 Samuel 6:14-16, the Message). I can’t help but shake the feeling that God loves to see His people dancing.
For all my dancers out there, I want you to think of the best dance you’ve ever had with someone. For me, during that dance all my attention was on my partner. I trusted my partner to lead me, and I followed without hesitation. I wasn’t concerned with the world around me because I trusted my partner fully. As our movements became one the world seemed to melt away.
I think this very same thing happens with our relationship with Christ. We need to trust Him and follow him without hesitation. We are then able to be in step with the Holy Spirit, and we are able to leave a trail of butterflies. We leave hope, joy, and change in our wake.
How can you dance today? Whether it’s a mini dance party or working on being in step with the Lord. I challenge you add a bit more dance to your day!
