I Want to Dance...

I want to dance... like Tori's mom. Tori is a friend of my daughter's, who got married about 2 years ago. I was a guest at that wedding, and at the reception I witnessed one of the most amazing things I've seen in my life. Tori's parents danced. It doesn't sound so amazing, does it? What I haven't mentioned is that Tori's mom is in a wheelchair. An electric wheelchair, because she also has limited use of her hands and arms. It was beautiful, and intricate, complete with spins and just about any other dance move I can think of. Tori's mom moved her wheelchair gracefully around the dance floor, as her husband held her other hand or danced nearby. It was amazing to watch, breathtaking, and humbling. I captured the moment in video on my phone.

What do I mean, I want to dance? Clearly, a casual observer would not expect Tori's mom to be able to dance. How can someone in a wheelchair dance? I think the key is not letting her limitations define her or determine what she can do. What I mean is this. She clearly is not physically able to stand or walk. But that didn't stop her from finding a way to dance. I think that I, and perhaps many of us, have much to learn from her example. All too often I see a mountain, some real or imagined hardship in my life, and I think, well I can't climb or get around that. But now I'm asking... Really?

I've decided I'm tired of being limited by this or that circumstance, or a decision I regret, or mistakes I've made, or whatever else it is in life that looks like an obstacle that can't be overcome. Are there limitations? Sure. Might there be things that need to be adapted or modified? Absolutely. There might even be a few things I actually can't do. But why let that define me or determine what I can do? Why not find a way to dance?  

So I've decided... I want to dance. I'm going to dance. I'm not exactly sure what that means, or what it will look like, and I don't think it will actually physically be dancing, but I think it will be fun. I think I might fall down, or make some mistakes, or maybe even accidentally step on someone's toes as I learn, and I've decided that's ok. I'm tired of letting fear, failure, mistakes, other people's opinions, and all sorts of things keep me from trying and doing.

God? Where is He in all of this? Right in the middle, cheering me on. Picking me up, brushing me off, encouraging me to dance. As a matter of fact, I think it's His idea. I think that's what John 10:10 is all about, abundant life, free from the chains of fear and failure and mistakes and everything else that tries to rob us of the purpose and life we were created to live. In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28)... and perhaps, even dance.