“I am a dancer.  I believe that we learn by practice whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living….In each it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievment, a sense of ones being, a satisfaction of spirit.  One becomes in some area an athlete of God. ”     Martha Graham c1953

I am not a dancer.

Driving down the road I’ve noticed each vehicle has a sticker affixed with a name of a girl, Misty, Jessy, anything ending in y,with a silhouette of a dancing girl leaping through the air and the name of her team.  Teams always end with the ever popular “ettes”….oh say Hawkettes, Lionettes, Dragonettes …you get the picture. 

I just finished reading through Exodus and Moses was really peeved at the people for dancing around a golden calf.

“When they came near the camp,  Moses saw a calf and the dancing.  In a terrible anger, he threw the stone tablets to the ground, smashing them at the foot of the mountain.”  Exodus 32:19 NLT

Our girl briefly joined a ballet class and decided after the first class at age 3 she would not be returning.  Her words upon exit were something to the effect of “I don’t think so”.  She sort of made the same point Moses did without breaking the ten commandments.  

 One of my best friends in the world,  Jan Mumma was a runner up for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and she has attempted to teach me to dance.  I am always stunned how gracefully she falls to the ground laughing hysterically after instructing me on something to do with a ball and chain.  Jan was a dancer, and I was a cheerleader….I tumbled and yelled….Jan glided and twirled.  She is quick to discount her glory daysyet somehow walks gracefully everywhere we go.  She even speaks gracefully.  We laugh continuously whenever we are together and pop never emits from her nostrils like other people I know (me…diet coke of course).  Dancers have the market cornered on poise, and in all ways of life apparently, whenever I think of grace and poise and a beautiful, sweet, quiet spirit who loves Jesus… I think of Jan.  She even knows how to dance in church.  She calls it litugical dance,  wears a smashing flowing ensemble of scarves.  Fantastic  visually, spiritually and usually at Easter Services.  Mrs. Mumma brings it on dolled up in a  totally style savvy priestly tunic.

“And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a preistly tunic.”  2 Samuel 6:14 NLT

The strip malls all have dance studios next to drycleaners, churches,  pay day loans.  I don’t remember driving by a strip mall that did not have a dance studio in it.  What is all the dancing going on here in Texas!  I best call Jan…hang on a sec……..Jan (former Texan) is on the line and laughs at me “Trish, I don’t know, I just know Texans dance”.

Every sunday a young man rides his bike to Hope and dances when the music starts.  He always sits next to Todd and I.  We sit in the front row since Todd’s speaks during a portion of the service.  Our friend dances and I’m pretty sure no one else is dancing, although I don’t turn around and look.  It has just occured to me,  all of Hope could be dancing behind Todd and I. 

Whenever I think of dancing I think of freedom.  God’s word has a little something to say about freedom.

“I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.”  Psalm 119:45 NLT

“In life as in dance : Grace glides on blistered feet”   unknown

The Lord speaks of breaking out of depression with dancing in the Psalms through dance.

“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.  You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give thanks forever!” 

 Psalm 30:11,12 NLT

So friends when you can’t contain your joy inside….dance for Jesus…dance for Jesus…dance for Jesus…and live.

My sis Peg, a Breast Cancer Survivor shared this song with me several years ago, and is dancing  and alive Praise God…thank you Chris Rice.

Getting into the groove in Texas, Trish