Dancing With God
I'll admit it: I saw "dancing" on the Convergence agenda and immediately began trying to figure out how to avoid that time slot. I didn't succeed. I was enticed and captivated by the woman who would be leading that session and couldn't resist. No matter what "dancing" might mean, I trusted her.
I was not disappointed.
It was only 20 minutes, more of a stretch-break than anything, but Deborah showed us four basic steps, turned up the bass, and started moving. One might say that a tapestry or a quilt would be a better metaphor for the combined beauty of individuals; for the weaving or uniting of distinct colors, shapes and sizes. But I will say that seeing a room full of women dancing - some who may never have, others who haven't for a long time, and others who clearly do so often - is the perfect metaphor - and more, a preferred reality.
There's something about letting our guard down and being surrounded by others who do the same that enlivens and empowers. Women rarely get that opportunity. In work, church, and culture we can (or do) rarely let our guard down and are surrounded by others who are not dancing the way we do - or even to the same music. We feel outnumbered, alone, and sometimes pretty silly - out there on the dance floor, moving to a different beat. But not yesterday.
Yesterday we laughed and sang, cried and clapped, ate and drank, talked and listened, rested...and danced. Not alone, but in community, in unity, in fellowship, in beauty, in solidarity, in strength. Yesterday we tasted God. Yesterday we danced with God.
I'll admit it: dancing (at least in this context) is far outside my comfort zone. But there was something inviting about Deborah. There was something safe about being with a room full of women who probably all had similar same fears and insecurities. There was something enticing about letting our guard down and being surrounded...by one another, and undoubtedly by God.
20 minutes out of an entire day of beauty - of dance, really. Not much and yet, so much. Dancing with God.
We finish up today and head our separate ways. In this weekend together we've talked of many things, we've worshiped, we've prayed, we've been strengthened, challenged, and encouraged, and we've danced - not just physically, but really - in synchronized, free, expressive, bass-booming ways. Beautiful.
As I head home I wonder what it would be like to hold this metaphor more closely, to acknowledge the discomfort I know in certain places, and with certain people but to let my guard down and know that I'm surrounded by other women (in reality and in spirit) who invite me to be me; to live and move and breathe with freedom and life; to dance.
Turn up the bass!
Ronna Miller blogs at Truth-Telling
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