Giving up on ballroom dancing was easy. Trying to count, stay in rhythm, remember new steps, maintain frame and differentiate between my left and my right at the same time, [yes, I still struggle with this] was difficult. But the hardest thing for me to learn in ballroom dancing was allowing my husband to take the lead.
This was frustrating for the both of us. He would often stop and tell me I was leading again but I was clueless to what he was referring to. I couldn’t understand when I was taking over.
Apparently I wasn’t the only one because our dance instructor had us all do an exercise to help us women learn to let the man lead. We were told to stand facing our partner and to place the palms of our hands against his chest. Keeping our arms straight and firm, we were to create a solid frame between us. If our arms were limp, they wouldn’t be able to push us forward when they stepped towards us. Instead they would run into us and step on our toes. Once we were in position we were then to close our eyes and wait.
We were not to move until we felt them move. When they moved, they literally pushed us backwards as they stepped forward. We naturally followed performing our dance step. When they stopped, we stopped. When they stepped backwards, we stepped forward maintaining contact and matching their rhythm. We were not to anticipate their next move. We were not to open our eyes to peak or worry about where we were going or who we might bump into. It was their job to steer and guide us around the dance floor. We were simply to keep our eyes closed and relax, following their movements through the palms of our hands against their chest.
As he waltzed me across the dance floor with my eyes closed, I could finally see what it meant to follow. I wasn’t fighting against him, or stepping ahead of him. . Instead I was intently waiting to feel his movement so I could move with him.
I was instantly reminded of how similar this was to my own struggle to allow God to lead in my life. Many times I thought I was following him only to find in the end that I had been leading myself. I had stepped out of rhythm by rushing forward. Or I had stubbornly held back in fear when he was gently pushing me forward.
If only I could apply the same principles of learning to close my eyes and wait to feel His move. When I quit anticipating and stand still, He moves me. When I close my eyes and wait, I relinquish myself to His control. I’m not distracted. I’m not anticipating. I’m totally dependent and focused on His movements, not mine. My only concern is maintaining contact, not worrying about direction.
He steers and guides me around the obstacles. He determines our timing, and develops our rhythm, when we step forward & when we step back. I trust him by resting and following his lead, feeling his movements through his spirit pressing against my heart. His sweetness drawing me toward him as he steps back. The pressure of his love and passion for people presses me forward.
When I stop, He moves me. When I close my eyes he guides me. And when I follow, we dance.
Wow. I am in awe of the gift God has has given you, my friend! As I have said before, your writings paint such a vivid picture, teaching, inspiring, moving. This almost makes me want to take dancing lessons . . . well, almost. I need to learn to follow Jesus, for now. That’s taking me a lifetime!