Dancing with the Spirit
Kass Unger of North Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. -Ezekiel 37:26-27
It seems that am often told, “You’re a good follower.” Maybe a little more context is required because we were often told growing up that being a follower is not a good thing, that we should not blindly follow. “That was a great dance. You’re a good follower.” When it comes to successful partner dancing, there is a leader and a follower. The leader proposes the steps; the follower chooses to follow or not. It requires both working together.
Let’s be clear, I am not a good follower. I am a bit of a control freak, and part of the reason I took up this style of dance (salsa) was to learn to give up a little of that control. And it was unbelievably difficult for me to do. Once I understood the basic steps and the panic in the bottom of my stomach started to dissipate a little, I was ready to try my hand (or rather feet) on the social dance scene. This did not go well. People didn’t lead in the way I expected. They didn’t combine the steps in the same order I had learned They threw steps at me that I hadn’t learned at all or even worse, they were not in time with the music. There was no beautiful twirling and swirling and happy dancing; there was panic, dislocated shoulders, and arguments about where the start of the bar of music was.
That was until I let go. One day something clicked. In order to work together we needed to work together. Sounds simple. But it meant that I needed to take what the other person was offering, irrespective of what I thought of it, and make it work. Sometimes I needed to transform it a little to fit me better, other times completely surrender and trust them entirely as I couldn’t figure out what was coming next. Those times were often when I would stare back open-mouthed and amazed at what they had just managed to make my body do, with me having very little clue how. Sometimes I even dance out of time with the music (in time with my partner, but out of time with the music). It kills me inside, but I do it anyway.
Letting go and accepting whatever others offer doesn’t just apply on the dance floor. Working together has allowed for some truly beautiful and creative expressions and has changed the ways in which I view my ministry.
Prayer Phrase
In God we all belong.
Spiritual Practice
Sustaining Our Connections
Many find themselves isolated around the world to protect each other and the most vulnerable during this global pandemic. Spend time prayerfully imagining those people that you might normally come into contact with on a regular basis, known and unknown. Remember all the connections that sustain our lives each day. Even in this time of intentional separation, how are you experiencing deep, intrinsic belonging in God?
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
