The Dance

I love to dance. It’s almost a guarantee that I’ll be the first one on the dance floor and the last to leave, regardless of the situation. I’m notorious for blasting music and forcing roommates to dance around the house with me; I just love dancing that much and think everyone else should, too! Although my talent as a “dancer” may be lacking, my heart for joining in is always there. Because of my affection for dance, it seemed logical to take a ballroom dancing class in college.

I signed up for the class my sophomore year and though I didn’t have a partner sign up with me, I figured I’d be just fine. It was the perfect class to take, complete with lessons on how to two-step, waltz, tango, swing, salsa, and do a number of other dances. We would cover a specific type of dance every few weeks and practice with various partners in the room to get used to their lead. At the end of the two weeks, we’d be tested on our skill in the dance itself by performing in front of the class. Beyond that, men were tested on their ability to lead and women on their ability to follow. For the first test, a girl would pick her partner and the next test the guy would pick. We alternated guys and girls picking throughout the semester, so you never knew who would ask you to dance during the test. Your grade was based on the dance you completed with the person you danced with in the test, regardless of whether or not your partner was any good.

I will never forget the two-step test. I was confident in my skills for the dance, I mean seriously, I grew up in the Midwest so I’ve been two-stepping since I can remember. The area I lacked confidence in, however, was my partner’s skill. Now we had some really great dancers in the class and we had some quite awful ones. The two-step test was guys’ pick, so the girls had to sit there, cross our fingers, and hope a guy with talent would pick us. For me, the opposite happened. I was picked by a foreign exchange student with little to no rhythm. I had danced with him in practice and knew that he was about to throw off my grade with his lack of skill, but there was absolutely nothing I could do.

Disappointed, I stepped out on to the dance floor and began the most hideous looking two-step that has ever been completed. I had to let this man lead my around the dance floor, and let him lead me in a way that was sub-par. He two-stepped off beat, definitely not following along with the beat Garth Brooks was laying down, and flung our interlocking hands up and down, as if we were pumping a well for water. The worst part was that this guy did the whole dance with a huge grin on his face, completely unaware of the fact that he was causing us to fail the test with each and every step we took.

The following week I came back to class ready to learn of my failed two-step. To my utter surprise, we received an A on the dance. I’m not sure if the professor gave the grade out of pure pity or if she fell asleep during our dance or if the guy paid her off, but somehow, someway, we managed to get an A.

I was thinking about that experience earlier this week when I was reminded about how God leads me. I have told the Lord many, many, MANY times the way I would like things to go, essentially how I’d like Him to lead me in this dance of my life. Sometimes, He does the things I expect, but more often than not, He has led me in this awkward dance I can’t figure out. He does things off beat, in His timing. He makes me wonder what He is thinking, why He is leading me the way He is in this dance. But just like the dance with my awkward partner, I end up with a better result than I could have ever hoped for, or dreamed of, or imagined.

Isaiah 30:21 says “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’ ”

 

The bible doesn’t say that the steps the Lord directs His children in will look perfect to the outside world or that we’ll be comfortable with each way, but it does say:

“When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.” (Prov 4:12)

“And we know that in all things (every dance step He leads you in) God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 – Abbey’s amplified version)

 

It’s evident to me now that I would rather follow the leader that guarantees every step I take will be used for His good, rather than follow the one that seeks the comfortable and formulaic steps. Often times, I’ll admit, I’m the one that wants the latter way. I’m learning though, again and again, that God’s ways are greater and higher and better than anything I could ever come up with myself. So I remind myself of the dance test I took in college, and to trust that no matter what the situation looks like from my perspective, the results of the steps will be amazing.

 

I encourage you today to listen to His voice and trust His lead. The view from heavens perspective is a beautiful dance between a Father and His child.

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