I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:23
I signed us up for a ballroom dancing class. I envisioned us gliding across the floor like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers after 6 weeks of classes. That didn’t happen.
I assumed I would be the one with rhythm and my husband would be the one with two left feet. The opposite was true. Learning the steps seemed easy enough. But then I had to execute them in time with the music while following the unspoken cues of my partner. I survived the embarrassment of that class, but we never learned to flow together gracefully as one. It takes more practice and patience than I possess.
Recently as I meditated on John 17:23 (above), I asked the Lord to illuminate what it means to be “perfect in one” with Him. As I waited for His answer, I saw the feet of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing swiftly across the room in perfect unison.
I realized that my walk with the Lord is really an elegant dance. It’s a partnership. He leads; I follow. As my trust in His leadership increases, we flow in unison. Just like learning to dance in the natural, so too is learning the spiritual dance. We practice “hearing” our partner’s voice so we can stay in step with Him. Our trust increases as we patiently follow even when we don’t understand where He is leading.
To follow our heavenly Bridegroom’s leading, we must be in His arms. Proximity and intimacy ensure that we feel His unspoken cues. Only then can we dance out our destiny with grace and beauty.
Our graceful dance beckons the world, inviting them to join us in rhythmic harmony. They see the love of the Father for His Son and His dance partner, you and me. They long for that intimacy.
I’ve given up dance lessons in the natural, but I continue to pursue them spiritually. I practice hearing Jesus’ voice by spending time in His presence and talking with Him. I push myself to follow with patience and perseverance even when I am not sure where the path leads. I continually place myself in His arms.
How about you, beloved? Are you ready for spiritual dance lessons? Your heavenly Bridegroom holds out His loving arms to you, “Come join the dance!”