The Dance

There is something about the dance that is strangely attractive, yet can be profoundly disconcerting for those not directly involved. When I speak of dance here I don't meant the crass bop, bump and grind that so often passes for dance, but rather the close interpersonal connection of two people moving together and responding as one, in the moment, unconscious of those around - totally given to each other. When we watch dancing performed by those who have developed a degree of proficiency, we see a mutual closeness and responsiveness that deep down we yearn for. Dance requires leadership, followership and mutual submission. It involves a desire to delight and to be delighted, to show strength and delicacy. When the two are completely immersed in each other, the music, and the moment, there is a sense of unity that is quite compelling.

This is the kind of unity that God calls us into through His Son. An intimate closeness that is immediately responsive, and profoundly delightful to Him who created us for exactly that purpose. The biblical references to 'the Bride' are no accident. They speak powerfully of the kind of intimacy that God desires with those who will give themselves to Him fully, in delighted submission and trust. But the Bride of scripture is not an individual, but a people.

Some time ago we had some lessons in Argentine Tango and the thought that struck me most often was the fact that the entire point of this form of dance is to make the female partner look absolutely amazing. The role of the male is to lead and provide the strength necessary to create a space for his partner to flourish and delight, to provide the context for her to reveal the inner beauty of one who is completely given to the dance.

Watching the instructor it became clear that his total attention was fixed on his partner, seeking to show her too the way of the dance. Nothing else mattered. The partner, in turn, was expected to be completely responsive to his lead and yet to increasingly express creativity and freedom as she became more accustomed to the music and movement. As the two become more and more united, the dance evolves into a continuous flow of mutual self-expression, and it is beautiful to watch.

Compare this with much of what constitutes 'competitive dance' where couples vie with each other to determine who can create the most impressive performance. The contrast is stark.

Two people move with engineering precision through a progression of choreographed steps, each trying to catch the attention of others who are merely spectators of the dance. The focus is outwards and attention-seeking, to score points and to not make mistakes. To appear perfect in the performance of the dance. And the outcome is barren and contrived. When they look at each other they often seem to barely notice, and much of the time they are desperately scanning the audience to see who is noticing the culmination of their practice.

The book 'The Shaping of Things to Come' discusses the movie Chocolat and contrasts the 'piety' of the church with the 'goodness' of the main character Vianne. That piety is typified as a form of external 'goodness' that lacks substance or authenticity, the appearance of being good. How similar to the contrived attitude of 'competitive dance' with the focus on who can be 'better', on competition and self aggrandisement rather than on submission and humility.

God has called us to more than mere outward appearance. He calls us to serve one another and to love sincerely, from the heart. To bear one another's burdens, to give of ourselves. To be lost in the dance, both with Him and with those that He draws near to us. To create that space to express who we are and our desire to give of ourselves to one another.

The greatest challenge I face in all of this is my reaction to superficial and self-serving behaviour that causes me to withdraw rather than engage, particularly when it is evidenced in those who purport to 'serve' the people of God. The history of Christendom reveals a throng of people who have sought, through ecclesiastical office and position, to elevate themselves above their brothers. Rather than drawing us into the dance, they are more intent on being the centre of attention, crowding out everyone else, scoring points, not making obvious 'mistakes'.

Pray for me that I might have the grace to see that even these are subject to the will and the purposes of God and that each of us is on a journey of reconciliation and discovery as we seek to know Him and the Life that He offers us. May we all learn of Him who is our example, who did not see equality with God as something to be grasped but who humbled Himself as a servant, even to the point of death. And in His humility (and humiliation) He was swept up again into that divine dance of God. From Death to Life.

His prayer for us is that we might be one even as they are One.