People who act really happy for no apparent reason make me curious … okay, I confess, maybe even suspicious.
One recent morning, I was driving someplace rather early and saw a guy literally dancing down the sidewalk along a busy street. Headphones planted in his ears, this fellow was skipping, twirling, and boogeying to a beat the rest of us weren’t hearing.
I bet I wasn’t the only one who assumed the man was plastered. But it still made me chuckle. As the rest of us were trudging off to jobs, schools and appointments, this sidewalk dancer was most definitely pickin’ up some good vibrations and putting on quite a show with his happy feet.
I watched people watch him. Everybody slowed down to stare when they passed by him. As I sat at a red light, I looked ahead and saw a long line of drivers squinting in their rear-view mirrors to see this guy bustin’ his moves.
I’m not much of a dancer. My Mom recognized early on that dressing me up in frilly outfits to pirouette or tap my way across a stage would be pure torture for this little tomboy. Now, however, I wouldn’t mind learning how to do some basic steps – the shag, a little ballroom dancing, perhaps. But my husband is emphatically not interested in taking lessons with me. In fact, he’s dug in his size 13s and clearly communicated, “Unh-uh, no way, not gonna happen.”
This man would probably try to lasso the moon for me if I asked him to, but he will not take a dance class with me. I’m dealing with it.
But even if my feet remain repressed, no one can keep my heart from dancing.
So, dance in my heart I shall … and should.
In fact, all Christians should. If we lived “inside out” and exposed the very core of our hearts, followers of Jesus Christ should display as much exuberant joy as that fellow on the street did. We, of all people, have something to dance about. We’re loved, forgiven and free!
There’s a story in the Old Testament about King David being so overcome with joy when he brought the sacred ark of covenant back to Jerusalem that he laid aside all regal pomposity, shucked off some of his kingly clothes and truly danced like nobody was watching. And David caught more than a little flack for it from his sourpuss wife who told him he had made a complete fool out of himself.
The king’s response? “…I will celebrate before the Lord.” (2 Sam. 6:21c).
The guy I saw dancing down the street the other day was likely filled with something other than the Holy Spirit, but God used him, nevertheless, to remind me that the Bible says the kingdom of God is about “righteousness, truth and JOY in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).
So Christians, let’s dance. If not on the outside, then certainly on the inside. Let’s not plod through life looking like we’re sucking on lemons and hauling boulders on our backs. As the popular country song says, “And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance…I hope you dance.”
Let’s make people wonder where our joy comes from – not from bottles or pills, but from Jesus — the purpose He gives, the grace He imparts, the future He promises. Because, friends, that’s somethin’ to dance about.
“You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” (Psalm 30:11).