Taking JOY for a Spin

It likes to linger right in front of joy.  God’s been teaching me lately about the joy that resides just past fear, and how facing my fear is often the only way to enter His joy.  

Certainly life presents a myriad of fears to each of us.  My most resent fear?

Dancing. (Admittedly, not so harrowing, but stay with me.)

Now, I’ve always had this secret desire to dance. I always loved watching Gene Kelley dance in the rain or Fred Astaire glide across the floor. Dance has always been such a beautiful expression to me of love, freedom, and joy.

This past fall God opened up a door for me to go partner dancing once a week with a great group of people. Intimidating –yes.  I didn’t know anyone too well, I certainly didn’t know what to do with my feet, and as much as I tried to get a friend to go with, everyone always had something else going on.  So alone I went.

There I was, minding my own business - making my way towards joy when I stumbled into fear. Even though I’ve dreamt of dancing, and even pleaded with God for an outlet, I was afraid. Afraid I wouldn’t get the steps down, or no one would ask me to dance, or I’d look like a fool on the dance floor – and then for sure no one would ask me to dance.  It wouldn’t have taken too much for me to throw in my shoes – but I was so focused on the hope that someday I might be good at it, at some point it wouldn’t all feel so awkward, at some point I would find joy on the dance floor- I just couldn’t give up.

Last week I went to a second Ceroc class (after spending much of the fall learning Salsa).  Somewhere in the midst of spinning on that dance floor I completely forgot all the steps – my brain went off line – and the dancing actually became natural.  I didn’t have to think about it – I could just do it.

The fear was gone.  I had hung in long enough to push past it.

All that remained was joy.

And JOY was taking me for a spin.

My pastor has this saying, “The dogs of doom stand at the doors of your destiny.”  As we reflect on the joy of this season, I pray He gives us strength to face every fear by setting our eyes on the JOY that is sitting on the other side.