January 2012
Monthly Reflection
TV programmes such as ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘Dancing on Ice’ attract millions of viewers. We watch in fascination as different celebrities from worlds outside dancing spend hours in training, learning new steps and routines in order to perform dances that are perfectly synchronised. Those who win each week are those who best reach that level of rhythmic oneness. There is a joy and thrill for us in watching their achievement of synchronisation and harmony.
Every new morning, new week, New Year offers us a choice –
do we dance it or do we endure it?
Daniel J O’Leary, ‘Already Within’, 2007:19
is ‘Yes, Lord, I want to dance each day of 2012 with You’, we might well find ourselves feeling a little like those ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ celebrities. The difference is that this is the sacred dance of life itself and we are partnered with the divine Dancer.
Dancing with God
(Source Unknown)
When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness and attentiveness from one person, and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw "G" I thought of God, followed by “u” and “I”. “God”, “u” and “I” “dance”. God, you and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.
During the ‘seasons’ of 2012, the dances for our SMG family will vary: the joyful Quick Step of the 140th celebration of our Founding in February will be followed by the more measured Waltz of the Chapter preparation and Chapter itself in June.
The same will be true for ourselves, our families and friends: our dances will be many and varied. Whilst this is exciting on one level, we are understandably, perhaps a little hesitant about some of the dances that may lie ahead of us.
However, if we reach for our Partner, take the outstretched Hand, stay in partnership and allow God to lead, we will find ourselves rejoicing in the reason for our being:
Creator and creation dancing as one.
Sue Goble