This year Stephanie and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage. When you talk to a couple that has been married for 10 years or 100 they both say the same thing. “It feels like it was just yesterday that we walked down the aisle together.
There are few moments in life that give you that feeling, the rush, the excitement of that day. You are surrounded by family and friends and you celebrate the fact that you have found the one that you will spend your life with, raise kids with and grow old with. Once the ceremony is over you have taken all the pictures and shaken hands with everyone you know you finally get the chance to celebrate at the reception.
I remember quite well the discussion of if we would be “allowed” to dance at our reception. Growing up as good Nazarenes we wondered if people like our grandparents would be offended if we danced. We decided that we must at least have the traditional first dance and were excited to celebrate this special day with a dance together. Leading up to the big day Stephanie asked if I could dance, more than once. I assured her I could, how hard could it be? I had seen dancing in movies and on TV this would be no big deal. The time came they played our song and we walked onto the dance floor. I looked into her eyes and could not stop smiling. The music played and we danced soaking up each moment together. We were celebrating, we were now husband and wife life could not be more perfect. In my mind the way we danced we could have been on dancing with the stars. The still pictures showed the same images I had in my head and then the video came out. I finally understood why she had asked if I knew how to dance… for 5 minutes I just swayed her back and forth in a circle. Thanks to my good ole Nazarene upbringing I had barely danced a lick before that day, and it showed.
To truly experience God, we should "dance with Him. We should dance and celebrate our moments in his presence. We celebrate because He has entered into a relationship with us we are now one with God. Some of us are too concerned with what our dance looks like to others. We are embarrassed, nervous, or even shy about letting others see our relationship with Him in public. Stephanie didn’t care how bad I danced she just wanted to look into my eyes and know that I loved her. God is not concerned with us having the perfect steps down before we begin the dance, He is just waiting for us to take the first step.
When was the last time that you danced with your wife to show her you love her? Maybe your dance is coffee with her before the kids get up or a lunch date in the middle of the week. When was the last time you danced with your kids and showed them how much they mean to you? Maybe your dance with them is bringing them lunch at school, or putting down the phone and turning off the radio in the car just to talk to them with no distraction. When was the last time you danced with God? Have you told him how much it means to be loved by him? Have you shared a moment alone with Him just celebrating the fact that you have the chance to spend your life together and grow old together?
This week in the midst of a new year... I hope you make time to dance. Read the lyrics of this song by Lee Ann Womack.
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
