Spiritual Ballet

Thursday, March 20, 2014 Posted by Debbie Legg

One of the best life lessons I’ve learned came from a fellow dancer at George Mason University.

The semester was beginning and I wanted to be able to dance with the college troupe. To do so I needed to be enrolled in a dance class. None of the classes I wanted fit my schedule.

“Take Beginning Ballet,” she suggested. “No matter how many times you go through the basics you always learn something new.”

She was right.

Even when you’re dancing well you can always dance better. Sometimes all you need is a simple realignment. Sometimes there’s a glaring mistake you can now correct. Sometimes it just makes more sense to you the second time around…or third…or one-hundred twenty-seventh.

Spiritually speaking, this is what The Five Basic Positions look like:

First Position: Seated quietly, Bible open in front of you, mind and heart open in front of the Bible

Second Position: Butt firmly in pew with eyes, ears and heart alert; repeated at least weekly

Third Position: Face down on the floor, a good posture for repentance and worship

Fourth Position: In a small group, Sunday School class or other small Christian community

Fifth Position: Love. Always love.

When I can’t find a hole in my schedule, when my heart overflows with overwhelm, when sin threatens to take me down, when I just need SOMETHING/ANYTHING, returning to the Five Basic Positions marches my heart and spirit back into alignment with God my Savior.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matt 6:33)