Dancing

Moving to rhythm—that’s what dancing is. That covers the “what” but what about the “why?” Why do people dance?

It seems to me that dancing is a response. We dance for joy, for passion, and even for sorrow or anger, but ambiguity doesn’t get us on our feet. My team scores a touchdown and I might dance; but in a 3 to 0 game nobody but the cheerleaders dance and their hearts aren’t in it.

Dancing may be as simple as moving the heel and the toe or as complex as telling a story in rhythmic motion but it is always a response to a beat, to an event, to a dream or desire, to a truth, or to a strong emotion.

As soon a child can stand, without teaching or encouragement, he or she will move to the music. It is as natural as breathing and no matter how rhythm-less we claim to be now, we all danced like no one was looking when we were children.

• We didn’t need a band; the wind was enough music to get us going.
•  We didn’t need a partner; we were dancing with God.
• Joy was the tune; happiness was the rhythm, and creation provided the harmony.

Somewhere in our dance of innocence we stumbled into a stationary adult who got in our way and suddenly we were in their way and the spell was broken. At their rebuke, we stopped dancing.

Many of us never danced again. We lost our rhythm and forgot our song. What was left was what the Bible calls “mourning.”

We mourned the loss of childhood and freedom. We mourned the memory of dancing with the wind and with God Himself. We lost the urge to move in rhythm with life because life had lost its song.

Another Song

Then we heard another song in the distance. It said something about love and life and a fresh new start. The tune was memorable and the beat inviting. The harmony was clean and easy to sing. But it was the words that drew us in. The song told a story of One who came to dance with us, to teach us a new song, a love song about now and forever.

Suddenly and for the first time in a long, long time, we wanted to sing; we wanted to dance. We wanted to dance with Him! All we had to do was call on Him and He came to us. He took off our old, heavy boots and gave us new shoes made for dancing, lightweight and strong with cool taps on the soles. He lifted us up by the hand, inviting us into the dance. His music took us and started our feet to move and our hearts to sway. Like a child in the sun, we were dancing again.

It was a response, a response to love, joy, truth, promise and the warmth of a Savior

Scriptures

Psalm 30 NIV
I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” O Lord, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: “What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my help.” You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Mark 10:15-16 NIV
I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

2 Samuel 6:14-15 NIV
David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

Psalm 149:2-5 NIV
Praise the Lord. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

Ecclesiastes  3:4 NIV
…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

1 Corinthians 14:26; 14:40 NIV
All … must be done for the strengthening of the church… But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Song of Joy and Rhythm

He Turned My Mourning into Dancing
Words and Music: Ron Kenoly

Chorus:
He’s turned my mourning into dancing again
He’s lifted my sorrows, I can’t stay silent
I must sing for His joy has come.

Verse:
Where there once was only hurt He gave His healing hand
Where there once was only pain He brought comfort like a friend.
I feel the sweetness of His love Piercing my darkness,
I see the bright and morning sun As it ushers in His joyful gladness!

Chorus:
He’s turned my mourning into dancing again
He’s lifted my sorrows, I can’t stay silent
I must sing for His joy has come.

Bridge:
His anger lasts for a moment in time
But His favor is here and will be on me
For all my lifetime!

Chorus:
He’s turned my mourning into dancing again
He’s lifted my sorrows, I can’t stay silent
I must sing for His joy has come.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer