Treasures in Dance and Life

My best friend, Micki, and I transferred to a large university our junior year. When we scheduled classes, getting in to those for our major wasn’t difficult, but finding an open class for the required PE class was a challenge. Students had registered at the close of last semester, so few classes were open. Micki stood next to me registering for the same. “Well,” the advisor said, “it looks like you have a choice of wrestling, basketball, and intermediate modern dance. All other PE classes are closed.”

Micki and I looked at each other in a panic. I didn’t know if I would laugh or cry. “Intermediate?” I asked incredulously. “I’ve never even had beginning.” (Not to mention that I wasn't remotely interested in the class.)

“That’s fine, you can still get into the class.”                                      

Micki and I registered, not knowing what we were getting into. We needed two PE classes and couldn’t double up in the three remaining semesters.                                                                                            

The day came for class to start, and wearing our leotards, we walked into the gym. One of the students said with (sickening) enthusiasm, “Our instructor studied abroad this past summer. Isn’t that wonderful? I can’t wait to see what she teaches us.”

I wasn’t feeling it. The beautiful instructor, long straight blonde hair, and walking toward the center of the gym in   statuesque posture, read the class list. It appeared she knew many students. Of course, she did- they had been in beginning modern dance.

“Alright ladies, let’s go to the bars.” Micki and I followed the others’ leads. We had no idea what we were doing.

“Third position”, the instructor called.

I imitated the girl in front of me. Micki, behind me, said in a stage whisper, “Marilyn, what happened to first and second?”

“I have no idea,” I whispered. “I’m just following the girl in front of me.”

It was nothing short of a miracle we got through the semester and actually passed the course. I won’t even describe our group presentation for our final.

Positions. It amazes me how there are purposefully designed positions in dance. The techniques enable you to move with grace, flow, and ease.

People in scripture have been positioned to move purposefully too.

In Genesis, Hagar a slave girl, was thrown out of the house and sent to a desert. It was there she met God. It is the first time in scripture we read the name El Roi. She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "’You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’" (Genesis 16:13 NIV)

Hagar was positioned to be the first female to see the character of our God who sees every detail of our lives.

In Genesis, we meet Joseph-sold into captivity by his jealous brothers. Joseph rose to leadership, was falsely accused and imprisoned, then released to use his wisdom to save people from famine. When reunited with his brothers, he told them,

“ ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.’” (Genesis 50:20 NIV)

Joseph understood God had positioned him for specific roles and purpose.

As an infant, Moses was placed in a basket in the crocodile infested Nile River, by his courageous mother in an attempt to save his life from murder by Pharaoh. An Egyptian princess rescued him and he was raised and educated in a palace. Later, he became God’s instrument to deliver the Israelites. (Read the accounts in Exodus.)

God positioned Moses for a task.

Esther, a Hebrew orphan, was sent to a palace, chosen to be queen, and then saved her people. She had “come to royal position for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14b NIV)

God positioned Esther for an amazing life-saving role.

God positions us today, perhaps not to save a nation, but to influence people. You may be positioned in your family, neighborhood, workplace, small group, organization, committee, or in a simple conversation. Your life may have changed in a move, by a diagnosis, or with an empty nest but has purpose. Each of us has been positioned.

We may be uncomfortable, but our positions matter, and so does what we do about them: words, decisions, attitudes, and interactions are opportunities to use our positions.

Intermediate modern dance, was an experience I’d like to forget, but fifty years later, it’s fresh in my mind. So is the fact in that semester’s position, I persevered through the unfamiliarity and discomfort and passed the course.

What about your positions and the position you are in now? How do you see your purpose and influence to dance in your God-appointed position?

*Photo courtesy of Bailey Rose Foland 

Treasures from a Toy Box

I have saved a few of my daughters’ childhood toys and gradually unpacked some for my grandsons to play with when they visit. The toys are forty years old and it’s amusing to see how things have changed over the years.

When my grandson picked one of the toys from a box and moved it to the small toy house, I asked, “What’s that?” curious to hear his answer.

“That’s a refrigerator.” He confidently replied.

“Well, it looks like one, but it’s actually a phone booth.” I pointed to the phone, but decided further explanation would go over his head. He continued to play.

What a lesson from a three-year-old. We often mistake one thing for another too, and we do it with confidence.

In his book, Love Does, Bob Goff says,

“I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I’m more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.”

We mistake things that don’t matter and think they do.

Today, a friend told me she has to clear her calendar and drive to Virginia to be with her sister whose husband is in hospice. She had a full week planned with activities and afraid of letting some people down, but knew she had to adjust and be with her sister. That mattered.

Last week, a beautifully decorated luncheon table for eight, was changed to accommodate last minute additions to twelve. The table settings were mismatched and the centerpiece removed, but hospitality and people mattered over things and appearance.

We may insist on our way and our opinion, and a relationship is shattered.

In today’s culture, we carry our personal phone booth as a wardrobe accessory and use it while we’re in the presence of others, ignoring the people we are with.

What matters?

My three year old confidently identified an object incorrectly and didn’t want an explanation. Sometimes we don’t want information either. We choose the good or the easy over the best or the difficult pursuit; or we choose things over people, and we confidently forget what matters.

How do you determine what matters? 

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The Treasures of Moments and Memories

Do you cringe at the idea of writing in a journal regularly? Are you quick to say, “Not me. I couldn’t do that.” 

Journaling doesn’t have to be elaborate pages of writing. There are treasured opportunities in journaling that come in small ways.

One of my friends keeps a hospitality journal. She records the menus she served, who attended her luncheons and dinners, and a few thoughts about the event and the recipes. (She often tried new recipes and some were a hit, and others never saw her oven againJ) Her journal reminds her of friends who have crossed her paths over the years and how she lives out her gift of practicing hospitality. (Romans 12:13) 

Years ago, a speaker challenged us to keep a journal of contentment, moving us away from complaints and negativity. The apostle Paul reminds us that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6 NIV)  A few sentences recording moments of contentment in challenging situations and struggles, is a way of changing our perspective and building our faith.

I keep journals about my grandchildren and the sweet times I spend with them. I may write a prayer for their first day of school, a funny comment they used when I talked with them by phone, or how one of them is now taller than I am. Each time I write, Proverbs 17:6a (NIV) “children’s children are a crown to the aged…” speaks to my heart.

I received a five-year gratitude journal as a gift.  There are just a few lines for each year and I am now in my third year recording thankfulness. When I record each day, I look at the previous years. The journal serves as a reminder of what I may have forgotten. At the sight of a beautiful red cardinal on my deck, or a sunrise each morning, my sentences of gratitude point to the faithfulness of God in small things which are really big things. Give thanks to the God of heaven…(Psalm 136:26a AMP)

Do any of these speak to your interests and needs? Perhaps today marks your inspiration to begin in a small way.

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…

Zechariah 4:10a NLT

Please share your comments. I’d love to hear from you—how and what you journal, how it is an extraordinary treasure to you, or if you began journaling today.