I Hope You Dance

When you lose someone, you're reminded death is real. You come face to face with that fact and realize the only constant in this life is change, and change involves rebirth. And while we're still on this side of eternity, that rebirth means learning to live with a constant absence of someone or something we once had. 

Sometimes it hurts.

Pain is also a teacher. 

The past year --even in this past year, just the first week of January, we lost our pastor. Our mentor, our confidant, our friend. The one who reminded us to always go to Jesus; our Undershepherd. Just on the cusp of turning 51, God decided it was his time. He died of a heart attack while working out, something he did most days. While paramedics tirelessly sought to revive him, God already had him in the palms of His hand, moving into His mansion in heaven, getting familiar with his new forever residence, but suddenly and without warning taken away from his beloved family and church family. 

In a moment. In a flash, he was gone. 

We are healing. 

We are learning. 

Saturday night, my husband Kevin and I attended a family wedding. I only want to be honest with you. At first, we felt resentful. So much so, I waited until the last two days to find my dress and accessories and shoes. Unnecessary stress! 

When we came to the day of the wedding, having probably bickered on the way out the door, and after the ceremony we stood outside with family. 

I felt ignored by his family, so I tugged on Kevin's arm so we could go and spend the few hours by ourselves at the bookstore, but just as we turned to leave, our nephew walked over to us and asked us to join the family at his house. 

Now we really felt awkward, and it was our attitude! So, we accepted the invitation, walked back to the car, got in, started the engine, and prayed.

God, help us! We need you! Help us not to feel so awkward, help us to lean into the joy of family today. Help us to shine your light, and show your love, most of all, thank you for loving us first. It's through your love we learn how to love. Help us to lean into whatever goodness you have in store for us today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

God gave us His peace! We had wonderful bonding time at our nephew's house. The guys hung with the guys watching a golf game on tv. The women all went and did their hair and touched up their makeup and gabbed in the kitchen and sipped espresso martinis. 

When we got to the wedding reception, knowing that the mother of the bride walked her down the aisle just a few hours ago, at the  ceremony, she also danced with her in the place of the Father/Daughter dance. 
 The song they danced to was called "I Hope You Dance," an old country crossover hit I remember from my college days. 

The song is all about embracing this one precious life you're given by not living it on the sidelines. How many of us do? 

Following this advice, and if there is anything we as a congregation have learned in the past year, life is precious and life is short. 

Once the DJ opened up the dance floor, I kicked off my heels, grabbed my husband's hand and ran to the dance floor. 
We danced all night, because why not? 

Ps.118:24 God says to us, this is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

Cherish those you love, love the unlovable, share Jesus as often as you can, be a farmer planting seeds and seek to honor and glorify God because you're not promised tomorrow.

I hope you dance, my friend. 

We said goodbye to our dad and my brother, and Kevin's brother in the early months of last year. My brother died suddenly too, just 5 days after we buried my dad. 

And just at the start of this new year, our beloved and Godly pastor was taken. 

It takes an earthquake tremor to tear a veil. It takes the power of God to bring our focus back to God, sometimes.  

Life is back in perspective, and really! We had fun. 

You only live once. Answer the door when God knocks, and when given the opportunity, make sure you get out on the dance floor. Dance at the wedding. Jump into that family basketball/football/Frisbee/volleyball game. Talk with a stranger. Love on that selfish and difficult family member. Call your mom. Hug your son/daughter/niece/nephew. Tell someone about the hope you have in Jesus. Experience the gift that life is.

I hope you dance.