For August 17th:

“…and a time to dance;…” Ecclesiatstes 3:4

The song “Lord of the Dance” is probably my favorite hymn.  I only wish I could sing it all the way through without crying. 

Dance, dance, wherever you may be

I am the lord of the dance, said he

And I lead you all, wherever you may be

And I lead you all in the dance, said he

I am a dancer.  No matter how old I get or how infrequent my visits to the dance studio become, I will always identify myself as a dancer.  For some of us, finding the right words to express our true feelings is difficult to impossible.  But when I am dancing I am more myself than at any other time.  If you want to know how I feel, watch me dance.  

I am so grateful for this gift.  My gratefulness does not extend out of some level of expertise that can be obtained in the art of dance, but in the simple ability for me to move.  The song “Lord of the Dance” reminds me that the gift of dance is from God, and it is therefore my responsibility to use the gift for Him and also to let Him be the guide to the dance of life. 

I currently teach contemporary dance part-time to teenagers.  I am constantly reminded that I am being used by God in this circumstance. There have been multiple instances when the students have been able to open up to me about difficult circumstances in their lives and ask for help when they have not been able to talk to anyone else.  Remember, dancers do not always find words easily, and the majority of the time the movement comes before the words.  It is only through the medium of dance that their emotional walls have been broken down and they feel comfortable enough to share things with me and allow me to be a positive influence in their lives, when positive influences are not abundant elsewhere.  No matter what the problem or circumstance, I try to focus on showing them unconditional love and being God’s servant in my interactions with them.

What is it that you enjoy doing so much that it is an emotional/spiritual experience and not just a physical experience?  Each time you have that experience, remind yourself that God has given us these things to not only enrich our lives, but to reach others for Him.  I encourage you to search out ways to share your gifts with others and spread God’s love. 

Megan Parr