It seems we’re starting to breathe again at our house. Not everything has settled back to normal, but we’ve actually gone a week without a new crisis!
I was thinking today about an experience I had during the really hard, can’t catch my breath times this fall.
Several people had made comments to me over the last year like “dance in the rain!” or “play in the rain!” I wanted to be able to live that way–dancing through the hardships, but it just wasn’t where I was.
One day at church I was standing during worship, singing along with the worship team, and I started thinking about those comments. As I meditated on the thoughts, I sensed myself dancing in the rain. Only it wasn’t a jig or a folk dance or anything that took much energy. And even as I danced I cried.
But I WAS dancing. The rain and my tears fell in a steady stream. But I danced.
It was a very tender, slow dance. The Lord’s arms supported me, holding me close. The tears and rain mingled and I had the sense that I was protected. I was being led through the rain, and it was okay that I cried as I danced. The rain just kept washing my face as the tears kept falling, and the Lord held me close. My head upon His shoulder, I barely moved, but I still followed His lead.
Maybe dancing in the rain isn’t what we typically think of. Maybe there are hard times when dancing is more of a leaning on Someone stronger than a celebrative expression. Instead of joyful, energetic movement, maybe this kind of dancing is about taking one tiny step at a time, held close through the cloudy journey, led by a Partner who understands our pain.
