Dance the Dance.

Today has been a beautiful day - sunshine, warm, but not much humidity. After dinner, I just had to go for a walk to enjoy the wonderful weather. However, I wanted to walk quickly because my favorite show this summer, So You Think You Can Dance, is on TV tonight.  As I was walking, I had a thought I wanted to share.

If you've never seen this show before, it's an American Idol type show - dancers audition, then perform week to week and get voted off when they have the lowest votes (and in this show, the judge agrees they should leave).  What makes this show different than many I've seen is that the contestants CAN DANCE. I don't mean that they simply have the talent, I mean they have so much passion for what they are doing you can feel the emotion in your living room. When someone has so much passion for what they do, it inspires me.  Occasionally, the dancers may pick a style of dance they are completely uncomfortable with, or worst case scenario, they become injured during rehearsal and can't compete.  This doesn't happen often, but when it does, the dancer usually returns the following week and competes harder and with more passion and energy than they did before they were hurt.

I got to thinking that this is how it should be in our Christian life.  We need to find that area we're passionate about and give it everything we've got.  Dance the dance, don't just walk through the steps or go through the motions.  Whether that be hanging out with youth, serving in kids ministry, leading a small group Bible study, or helping clean the church for a worship service, go ALL in. Don't hold back. God gave you a specific passion and heart for something and wants you to use it to the fullest.  Like the dancers on the show, you may get hurt- you may be physically ill, having an "off" week, or dealing with something really tough in your life.  It's ok to take a step back sometimes to reevaluate your passion (to make sure it hasn't changed) but more importantly, to refocus on God and have him renew your spirit.  The important thing is when you return, you come back with more fire than you had before you left.

Dance the dance. Go all in. 

Mama always said...

Today I made a stop at a gas station to get a fountain drink. As I was coming out the door, a young girl about 17 or 18 was yelling very loudly at a guy that had walked out seconds before me. She was using profanity and hurling insults at him, even throwing her hands in the air. I then looked towards the guy who was sitting on the sidewalk completely silent, as if trying to ignore her.  I got in my car and drove away thinking “Wow, do people seriously have to use that kind of language? Why does someone think it’s ok to speak to anyone like that?” What did this girl accomplish by calling him out in public? Nothing but making herself look bad (and ruining any chances with this guy if the 2 had been dating…)

As I sit now and re-think the scenario, this guy definitely showed the maturity here- he accepted the insults and held his tongue.  It really made me think about how we communicate.

Mama always said “actions speak louder than words.”

In this scene at the gas station, the guy’s ability to stay silent and block out the comments showed me he was the bigger/better person.  (I have no idea what the 2 were arguing about, I’m simply looking at the principle.)

To take it to another level, if actions speak louder than words, what are we communicating to the One who gave us life and walks with us each step of the way? By turning your back when you feel like God has ignored you says you don’t fully trust Him. When you serve others, you are telling Him that his love is so important to you that you want to share it. Spending time in His word daily says you want to know more about Him. Communicating with God is not only about that prayer you say before your meal or as you go to bed each night. It’s about how you live on a daily basis.

What have your actions lately communicated to God? Is there anything that needs to change?