I want to clear the air first. I owe many of you an apology, especially those whose blogs I read and comment on. I spent a good part of Tuesday morning preparing for a funeral, and a good part of the afternoon at that funeral. So i was late responding to comments here and have also had to curb comments on your blogs. Some days are like that I reckon.
NOW BACK TO MY REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAM BLOG.
I am a horrible, horrible dancer. Always have been. Always will be. In Junior High I would dance to the slow songs. One of my favorites was Surfer Girl by the Beach Boys. When the slow song was done so was I. Several years I didn’t go to any dances. I had a pastor who told us dancing was wrong. 🙁 I had quite a decision to make when it was my Senior Prom. I decided to go and actually went to another school’s prom with a girl. Yeah…bad mistake. I was a fish out of water.
Came time for some weddings (not mine) and I was called on to dance again. Jo and I don’t dance together. She is barely 5’3″ and I am 6’5″. Mutt & Jeff. More like Laurel & Hardy. I did dance once with my mother at one of my brothers’ wedding. I danced with Janna as the Father of the (beautiful if I must say so myself) Bride. We danced to a Stryper song. I think it had to be longest one on record. 🙂 But I survived (and so did she).
Here is the problem: I was very agile in baseball and basketball, but dancing? That’s a whole ‘nother story. Nancy Sinatra once did a song called “These Boots Were Made for Walking.” My version is “my shoes weren’t made for dancing.” The only thing I had in common with that song were the words “and one of these days these boots/shoes are gonna walk all over you.”
What got me thinking about this whole dancing thing was this post by Zee, my little sis in Ukraine. Then as I thought about the posts so far this week (here and here), I realized they had a theme- one I never planned. It is about living life as an adventure. And as I was riding, it hit me about a man whom I admired: the late Tim Hansel. Tim wrote a book called You Gotta Keep Dancin’. Tim had a mountain climbing accident that would have done in lesser men, but he fought on. This book is the story of that struggle. His body finally gave out a couple of years ago, but the impact of this book lives on. BUY IT!!!!!! Anyway, he closed his book with this:
There is no box
made by God
nor us
but that the sides can be flattened out
and the top blown off
to make a dance floor
on which to celebrate life.
Kenneth Caraway
So…how are your dance steps?
I have not lived life as an adventure in many a year. I endure it as one might an onus. That sounds really depressing I know. Maybe some day, maybe tomorrow, things will get better.
I hope that you do it soon Daniel. Life is too short. 🙂 I know you have it in you.
I’m a real good dancer….when I’m by myself.
I am too when watching a music video or someone.
Thanks for the shout out 🙂
Life is definitely an adventure. And lately, my life has been an absolutely awesome adventure.
You’re welcome. 😛 We have times when it is humdrum and times when it blows the sides off.
An old Celtic proverb says: “Never Give A Sword To A Man Who Can’t Dance.”
I have the dance moves of a concrete block…so where does that leave us bro’? 😉
Swordless…and hopeless. 🙂
good word Pastor Bill – Love the image of the box turning into a dance floor.
Thanks Ben. I like that image as well.
Love the quote from Kenneth’s book, gonna post on my fb wall.
Our ladies bible study is out for the summer but we left with this challenge, doing something on purpose that brings us into contact with people outside our comfort group. Yesterday I signed up for two classes at the senior citizen center. A writing and exercise class. They do line dancing also so going to try and talk Ace into joining with me. Love to dance, that may be my exercise class. Whole point is to expose myself to the opportunity to witness on purpose.
Good post, good challenge.
Opps, sorry Tim’s book. One too many books on my mind.
Glad you are using the classes as a way to meet and reach out to others Betty. No problem about the book. 🙂
I don’t go out of my way to dance these days, but when the time comes I can still make the sparks fly! I think it really comes down to letting go and not caring what others think… kinda got that down pat… Great post and advice for living.
Letting go and not caring. Yep that about sums it up. 🙂
I’m not a dancer for sure (way too self-conscious about my awkwardness), but I like the quote because it reinforces that so much of life is about attitude. It’s the one thing we can actually change, and for believers, there’s grace and the Holy Spirit who makes all the difference. Love it! Thanks Bill.
Well said Jason. Attitude changes things.
Ha-Ha, Floyd! I DO go out of my way to dance these days! I danced alot when I was drinking, so there had been very little dancing for me for about 11 years until I discovered Zumba. Now I dance like no one is watching and don’t care if they do.
I can picture that Karen. Dance with abandon to the ONE who gave you the dance.
I don’t mind the slow songs, but the older I get the weirder I think I look dancing. I wish I was better at it because lots of people look so happy when they’re doing it.
I agree. Watching some dancers and the sheer joy on their face is sometimes worth it. (I also dream of me doing that. LOL)
I loved every minute on the dance floor of this post. First, I had no idea you were so tall! I think the graphic doesn’t do you justice. Second, I’ve been experiencing my own permission to dance, as in just being me without worrying that it’s not how other people are–and it’s certainly not! 🙂
No apologies are ever needed regarding blog comments. I’m amazed you are so faithful when I struggle to keep up.
Funny thing is Melanie I was 6’3 1/2″ in college. I gained an 1 1/2 inches after wards and have no idea when. Didn’t even realize it until I went to the doc about 5 years ago. So glad you are “experiencing permission” to dance.