June 2019 Archives

Then David danced and spun around with abandon before ADONAI, wearing a linen ritual vest. So, David and all the house of Isra’el brought up the ark of ADONAI with shouting and the sound of the shofar. (2 Samuel 6:14-15)

Dancing . . .

Today was a gorgeous day—cottony, cumulous clouds glided across the azure firmament . . . tree branches and leaves pirouetting with the gentle, rhythmic breeze . . . birds darting . . . wildlife prancing . . . insects flitting.

As I walked, my imagination stretched beyond Earth’s fragile atmosphere to our solar system with the planets gracefully spinning like ballet dancers on pointe as they whirl in splendor around the sun; and even farther as endless galaxies traipse upon the vastness of precious emptiness.

All creation seems to be dancing “with abandon before ADONAI” Her maker . . . the Universe dancing with Herself . . . Wow!

I love to dance . . . from dancing by myself in the living room of my childhood home, to dancing with my young sons in the family room of their childhood home, and now with my granddaughter in the play room of her childhood home . . . joyful, spontaneous, carefree, whimsical dancing.

In a text exchange with my cousin discussing my difficulty with “good-byes” he responded with,

“I try to hold hellos and goodbyes as one whole movement, sort of like a larger context in which comings and goings become a dance of engagement.”

. . . a dance of engagement . . . a thought-provoking assertion.

All of us on this blessed cosmic oasis . . . engaged in dance with each other and our Maker. Not only do we get to, but I believe we are called to this hallowed trip-the-light-fantastic betrothal.

All the interactions in one person’s lifetime from birth to death–family, friends, colleagues and strangers–a dance of engagement.

Can you hear the rhythm . . . the Heartbeat of Agape Love with Kindness, Truth, and Grace harmoniously carrying the melody?

If not, what’s stopping you?

As the ark of ADONAI entered the City of David, Mikhal the daughter of Sha’ul, watching from the window, saw King David leaping and spinning before ADONAI; and she was filled with contempt for him. (Verse 16)

I’m sure there are many theological explanations why David’s own wife, Mikhal, would not dance, beyond what I offer here.

Perhaps she felt a sense of entitlement and pride being a King’s daughter and a King’s wife. Maybe she resented being passed back and forth as a pawn for peace between the Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel (her father, King Saul had given her in marriage to another man in David’s absence). David had other wives by this time, so feeling jealous would not have been an unreasonable response; some false belief prevented her from joining in the jig of a lifetime.

Whatever it is, let it go

     . . . let it fall away

          . . . embrace the eternal now

               . . . take a step of faith and

                    . . . Dance.

I’ll join you!

. . . then there are the mornings like today, while still intensely grateful for all my blessings, my heart seemed caught in a vice of agony over situations and circumstances that seem completely hopeless.

Like the heartbreak my cousin is enduring caring for her mother, my aunt, who has Alzheimer’s . . . any of the hundreds of thousands of people who have or are currently putting their own lives on hold to care for loved ones . . . my heart aches for you.

Or the senselessness of littering . . . it has been almost 50 years since the “Keep America Beautiful” campaign of the 1970’s with the commercial of the Native American crying over a polluted earth and there are still people who do not respect our precious planet?  Really? What the frack?!

Or the idiocy of state legislatures that cannot and will not pass sensible and well-deserved legislation to ensure the financial security of teachers for the health and well-being of future generations. Come on people! You greedily line your pockets with money without regard to the long-term consequences of your insensitivity and ignorance. This not only breaks my heart but blows my mind as well.

I could go on, the list appears unending, but I think you get the drift . . .

I long for the day Isaiah describes in chapter 65 verse 17 of the Hebrew Bible:

For, Look! I create new heavens and a new earth; past things will not be remembered, they will no more come to mind.

Until then, what?

I was walking the track at a local high school, head hanging, pondering the musings of my heart when I noticed a dandelion growing out of a crack in the pavement. I love dandelions; it is completely unfair that they are labeled as weeds and that so much money is spent on chemicals to rid yards of this symbol of hope.

Yes, hope–for if you have ever experienced a young child plucking one from the earth and handing it to you with the joy of innocence and wonder on his or her face, you know what I mean.  Or perhaps you remember making a wish while blowing dandelion seeds and watching them being wistfully carried away with the wind.

On this particular dandelion were two minute insects engaged in pollination. I snapped a bunch of pictures because I was awestruck. Here were these infinitesimal creatures going about their business, doing what they were designed to do, living in the moment without worry or fear.

That’s it, then, every day, each moment—as difficult as it may be—choose hope . . . “Return to the stronghold, you prisoners with hope!” (Zechariah 9:12) . . . do what you were called to do, living without worry or fear, and serve others in Charity and Grace.

. . . in other words, be a Dandelion!