Doves,

Perhaps you have seen the email that has been passed along about the word GUIDANCE from an unknown author:

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.

My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

Last Wednesday I found that a brochure at my church for a singles retreat sponsored by one of the other local churches being held the weekend of April 27-29 where one of my pastors and his wife were going to be speaking. 

In fact, I almost didn’t go to my church service Wednesday because I felt the Lord nudging me to leave and go to another church.  I never been there, and didn’t know anyone there.  But as I got there and drove in the parking lot, I felt unwelcome even before I got out of my car.  So I left wondering why the Lord wanted me to go there.  Then the Lord spoke to me that He felt unwelcome in that church as well, and if he came that day, they would not be prepared for their visitation.  So I went back to my church.

Back in February when I heard that the season premier of DANCING WITH THE STARS was on 3/19/2007, I knew it was sign post of “something”.  I have never watched it (still haven’t), but it seemed significant.  So when I saw the brochure of the DANCING WITH THE STARS’ CREATOR, it was because of that, that I even considered that I should be there.  In fact, as I arrived, I nearly left because I felt awkward thinking I would not know anyone.  But, as I got out of my car (almost in protest to what I felt, knowing I had to trust God), a high school classmate came out of the building along with a couple of other people I knew.  OK. LORD THANK YOU!!!  I AM IN THE RIGHT PLACE!

Beautiful weekend, the retreat was great, and I made new friends.  But the highlight was on Saturday evening around 10pm, there were two couples that came and were going to teach (for those who wanted to learn) the Argentine Tango.  Argentine Tango is different than ballroom tango or just about any other type of dance.  The two couples demonstrated the dance before teaching it.  It was beautiful, intimate, and just amazing to watch.  What I didn’t know was that God wanted me to see how the bride of Christ will flow together with the Creator before His return.  The Argentine Tango was the perfect demonstration.

The reason it is different that any other dance because there is no set pattern, beat, or step counting.  The dance is created by the man to be a reflection of the music.  He does this as the music plays, creating and improvising with the music.  The woman, if she is to dance, must absolutely pay attention to the subtle non-verbal communication that the man broadcasts from his chest, and flow together with the man.  She cannot anticipate or predict but must be watchful at all times of his every broadcast.  If he pauses, she must reflect the pause. Her steps then become the glory and the grace of the man.  The beauty is expressed when both become one in the dance. 

When I have read Psalms 91 over this past year, for some reason I was seeing a dance.  Now I know why. It is as if we are in motion and step of our Lord and Savior, dancing with Him in perfect peace, while absolute terror is all around us.  We reflect the movement and steps of the invisible God who is dancing with us.

Jer 31:11   For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of [him that was] stronger than he. 

Jer 31:12   Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. 

Jer 31:13   Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 

Jer 31:14   And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD. 

No terror can penetrate the perfect peace in the dance.

Amazing how this song sung in 1985 by John Fischer, though simple is profoundly prophetic.

http://www.fischtank.com/ft/music/btanswers.cfm#lotd

Lord of the Dance
Words by Sydney Carter
Music from the Shaker folk song "Simple Gifts" (I've been singing this song since I first heard it in 1970. I finally got around to recording it when I realized no one had yet.)

I danced in the morning when the world was begun
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun
I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth

Dance dance wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the dance said He
And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance said He

I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee
But they would not dance and they wouldn't follow me
I danced for the fishermen for James and John
They came with me and the dance went on

Dance dance wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the dance said He
And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance said He

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame
The holy people said it was a shame
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high
They left me there on a cross to die

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black
It's hard to dance with the devil on your back
They buried my body and they thought I'd gone
But I am the Dance and I still go on

Dance dance wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the dance said He
And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance said He

They cut me down but I leapt up high
I am the life that will never never die
I'll live in you if you live in me
I am the Lord of the dance said He

Dance dance wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the dance said He
And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance said He

Blessings,

Wade Balzer

wbalzer@newjerusalem.org