Let’s Dance

I have not done much dancing of late. I’m afraid my days of getting down doing the running man or moonwalk have passed by. That said, I couldn’t help but dance this week to a different tune.

There is no secret how these times have been mentally taxing for so many of us. No role, occupation, or vocation has been spared.  

This week, we got some bad news regarding the health of one of our sons. Nothing serious, but heartbreaking for him nonetheless, as it will most likely prevent him from participating in his favorite sport for the foreseeable future. A participation that has been so critical for the mental health of so many children around the world. Sports has been the only source of interaction and “normalcy” for these kids.

As his father, I, of course, felt for him on so many levels. You try and support him emotionally in any way that you can. But then something else creeps in—your own emotions.

Anger. Sadness. Disappointment. Tiredness.  

On the one hand, we all know that dwelling on intense negative emotions can quickly drive us into a depressed state of victimhood. On the other hand, to casually gloss over such deep emotions doesn’t allow them to come to the surface properly; thus, they hide in the depths of our consciousness, seeping through when we least expect them.

So this week I danced.

I danced with my anger.

I danced with my sadness.  

I danced with my disappointment.

I danced with my tiredness of this pandemic.

I allowed these strong negative emotions to take the lead. Giving them control over my emotional dance floor. As a result, they pulled and guided me to a range of indignant thoughts. Thoughts that needed their time in the spotlight, in the middle of my emotional dance floor. This song went on for hours, but just like every dance, it came to an end. The negative emotions got tired. They had their time in the spotlight, and now new dance partners emerged.  

I began to dance with gratefulness for my son’s overall health and wellbeing. I passed into the arms of gratitude for health insurance and wonderful health care providers. I dipped appreciation for all of the small gifts in life while ending the dance by twirling indebtedness for the love of family and friends.

Both dances were necessary. Both had things to teach me. The first dance was needed for the second dance to be enjoyed.

As we continue to live during these crazy times, we must keep dancing, whether physically or emotionally. We must continue to engage each other and ourselves with humility, patience, and gracefulness.

I might even finally try some Irish Dancing.  

How about you?

Whatever is going on in God is a flow, a radical relatedness, a perfect communion between Three—a circle dance of love. God is Absolute Friendship. God is not just a dancer; God is the dance itself.

-Richard Rohr