Dance

There is a habit of mind that locates God's speaking phase in the deep past.  We may surprise people, and ourselves, with the claim that God is Still Speaking.  In our sharing during worship we share stories of how we have encountered God, caught a glimpse, felt a leading.  We also share how God has been silent in our lives when we longed for a word of presence.  We move closer and then away from the holy in our lives.  It seems that the holy is also moving, sometimes closer and sometimes away.

I invite you consider the coming and going of the holy in your life.  How about you make a point of listening and watching for the one who is both here and not here?  Consider that you are part of a conversation, which requires that you speak and then, with a generous heart and concentration, that you listen.

Perhaps you are weary of exhortations to listen for the voice of God?

Well, suppose we think of our lives as a dance that we follow, pausing until our turn comes and then turning our figure to find the beat and our next position.  How might we use the image of a dance to help us participate more deeply in our relationship with God?

I have a request, a wish.  Would you dance?  

Here's an example of what I have in mind.  In a room, by yourself, dance.  You can have music playing or you can be singing to yourself or you can be in silence.  Be alone.  Hold onto something if you think you might get dizzy!  Dance poorly, please.  No perfection allowed.  Dance as long as you can, even if it is just for a minute.  You might dance a little jig.  You might sweep through a ballroom figure.  You might follow a pattern you have already learned.

There is no obvious pragmatic purpose in dancing by yourself, is there?  So why do it?  Dancing is mostly or completely about you and your human body.  You are "incarnate" and dancing can make you aware of that.  Dancing accomplishes no task, so when you are dancing that's all you're doing with your body.  Dancing alone is a time when you can dance with the holy as your only partner.  Like a dance partner, the holy will come closer and then move away.  If you dance, you will be opening yourself to the holy, the one who has always been your partner. 

We ought to dance with rapture that we might be alive... and part of the living, incarnate cosmos.  ~D.H. Lawrence