I’ve been on a movie quote roll – and last night when talking to a friend of mine, one of my favorite chick-flick sappy line favorites fell into place with a whole stream of thought. It started with this though; God is the best, and I am just loving this crazy dance He lets me be a part of. And then my friend danced for me – in emoji! I love it when he does that because I know that it signifies shared happiness. And all this together put the movie quote on my heart. It is from Hope Floats (I warned you it was a chick flick line). Harry Connick Jr.’s character approaches Sandra Bullock’s character at a barn dance and says, “Dancing is just a conversation between two people, talk to me”.

I love dancing, literally and as an emotional picture. Dancing is moving, it communicates feelings. Dancing can be romantic, vibrant, fire or calm. Dancing is truly a conversation with anyone who is willing to listen. I’m a bit of a theater buff and I love the way Billy Elliott (from the musical of the same name) answers when asked “what does it feel like when you are dancing”.

“I can’t really explain it, I haven’t got the words. It’s a feeling that you can’t control. I suppose it’s like forgetting, losing who you are, and at the same time, something makes you whole. It’s like that there’s some music, playing in your ear, and I’m listening, and I’m listening, and then I disappear. And then I feel a change, like a fire deep inside, something bursting me wide open, impossible to hide. And suddenly I’m flying, flying like a bird. Like electricity, electricity, sparks inside of me, and I’m free, I’m free. It’s a bit like being angry, it’s a bit like being scared, confused and all mixed up and mad as hell. It’s like when you’ve been crying, and your empty and your full, I don’t know what it is, it’s hard to tell.” [Elton John’s Electricity, Billy Elliott]

That is my faith, every word; it is what my dance with God feels like. That crazy, calm, vibrant, romantic conversation with my Lord and with the life that He lets me live; that He has lain out before me. It is this unknown, electric, fire that I don’t have the words to describe. But when I get off the side of the dance floor and join into God’s rhythm – I’m free, I’m flying. I disappear and God’s dance breaks me into His music, into Him.

I look around me at all that is good and I dance. I have amazing friends – friends who dance every step with me; lead me, guide me, serve with me, worship with me and pray with me. I have a good job, family, passions and the ability to enjoy them, I have been able to travel the world and I have been able to truly experience love and grace. Life is good – and good times make the dance easier. Actually, the good makes the dance a natural response in praise of the God who makes it all possible.

2 Samuel 6:14 “Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all His might.”

Psalm 149:2-3 “Let Israel rejoice in their maker, let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with timbrel and harp.”

But dancing isn’t just a response to good things happening around me. It is also how I survive the valleys and the storms. See, there are times when I just don’t feel as close to God. The valleys, and we all have them in our walk; time’s when I feel totally separated, times when it is hard to hear His voice if I hear it at all, when I feel totally alone, left out on my own. It is in these valley times when it could be very easy to just disappear – from faith, from friends, from life. I have learned in these times that the only way I can survive is to cling to Jesus – pull Him in closer and let Him lead. At these times the dance slows, it becomes more intimate – I focus more intently on Him until I find myself back in the rhythm and the light.

Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you do not fear, I will help you.”

Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him.”

Psalm 61:2 “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

It is the same in the storms, when life attacks from all directions. The dance becomes almost violent – spinning out of control – bounced around by trials, disease, hurt, sin, addiction, anger, jealousy, lust, worry, fear – thrown around like a ragdoll. The only way to survive the storm is to grasp tightly to the Rock. He keeps me from being drowned by the raging waters. I cling to Him, dance with Him through it instead of trying to fight it on my own. I cling to Him with faith that He always brings me safely through. I may not be able to see anything ahead of me. Like a ballet dancer spinning – the key is to focus on one point to keep from losing balance and place. That focus point is Jesus, in the storm I focus only on Jesus and let Him take care of the world blasting around me on all sides.

Jeremiah 31:13 “Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.”

Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

My dance is also an internal dance. It is how I walk my faith. It is how Jesus and I have a conversation every day. Dancing is a conversation between two people – it is intimate and personal. To truly dance well with a partner, to be in step and graceful, you have to really know each other. God already knows everything about me – He created me perfectly as I am. I am the one who keeps stepping on His toes. I am the one who gets out of His perfect rhythm. But much like a dancer – if I put my heart into the work, I practice and I am willing to sweat a bit – I can draw closer and better in the dance with my perfect partner. I learn Him, I write His Word on my heart. I pray to Him, I talk with Him, and I listen to Him. I seek that music that is in my ear, strain to hear it, and strive to lose my self-focused noise and disappear into Him. The more I know Him, the better our dance becomes.

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

I love this dance I join every day – and I love that I have the best dance partner that I could ever have. He leads me. He takes control (as long as I let Him) and keeps me on the floor. His rhythm is perfect for me. He knows me better – more intimately than any other partner ever could. There are a lot of people on the floor; some with me, some against me, some twirl me, and some try to throw me down. But my partner has me, I put my trust in Him and He takes care of the dance.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Dancing with God takes work and sweat, it is definitely not always easy – but it is a dance of freedom and joy and peace. It is electricity bursting in me.

I love the conversation I dance with God.

He is waiting to talk to you, dance with Him!