Back in the day, my definition of “a cool girl” included her ability to dance.
I wanted to be cool too, so I practiced at home in front of my bedroom dresser mirror before going to the school dance. That was just plain…good grief. I can’t even. It didn’t look like dancing, and it certainly wasn’t cool.
I wonder how they danced in the Bible days. We know they did a lot of it in worship and celebrations, right? “Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.” What variety! Dancing to the tambourine and a harp. I bet the combination was marvelous!
I want my faith journey to be a dance.
Here’s what I mean.
Life instructions from good biblical teaching tell me how to find the rhythm for loving God and loving people. Then all of me listens to the music and shows up for the dance. That includes attempts to stay in synch with the beat, with moments of dancing beauty, bumbles, awkwardness, and missteps.
When I join others in the dance – on this journey – we bob and weave, watching, listening, learning. Trying to catch what music our friends are listening to. Wanting to understand what their movements tell us, and how we can respond. We keep moving. With each other.
Miriam is my favorite Bible dancer.
Remember her story? The Israelites were fleeing from their slavery and bondage in Egypt. Her brother Moses had parted the Red Sea so the Israelites could cross it on dry ground. But Pharaoh and his army of Egyptian soldiers were swept into the dark waters.
Miriam takes a tambourine in her hand, “and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. She sang to them, ‘Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.’” (Exodus 15:20-21)
Let’s be like Miriam today, OK?
Let’s pick up our tambourine, recorder, harp, keyboard, triangle, trumpet, or finger cymbals and let’s thank God for the good things He’s given us. Let’s praise Him for His faithfulness. Let’s remember the promises He’s kept.
Let’s celebrate the gifts that the prophet Isaiah reminds us of in his 61st chapter: God gives us “bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.”
You know what’s so cool about all this?
When we start dancing to the melodies of good things past, present and future, we will show up that way with our friends.
We will dance with steps and responses that offer joy. Smiles. Waves. Hugs. Noticing. Acknowledging. Clapping our hands in celebration.
I want to show up and dance with my friends, with exuberance for living, enthusiasm for what God has next, and gratitude for life. You too? I thought so.
So. Let’s get off the couch, roll back the rug, open the curtains, turn up the music, and move.
You don’t have to know the steps. Just pick up your tambourine or harp and listen to God’s whispers of blessings on your life. Then show up with that same joy and gratitude and move with your friends.
Let’s dance.
