I Hope You'll Dance

The other day as I was driving through the hills of our great conference going from one church to another, a song came on the radio which I had not heard for a few years.  You know this song - even if you are not a country music fan - because it swept the country about five years ago and was sung at every high school graduation ceremony in 2001.  It was Lee Ann Womack singing "I Hope You'll Dance."

I hope you never lose you sense of wonder,

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,

May you never take one single breath for granted,

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed.

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,

whenever one door closes I hope one more opens.

promise me that you'll give faith a fights chance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance...

I hope you dance.

I hope you dance!

What does it mean to "dance" in your life?  What amazing, beautiful music is the world playing for you?  It is a tango?  Or a waltz?  Or maybe break-dancing?  In my life, I think it is the chicken dance.  

This past spring has been very, very busy.  I don't know about you, but I let life get a bit out of control this spring.  We have now started four new churches around the conference.  We have three new Comma Connections.  Many of our existing churches are growing in exciting ways that require new visioning and planning for the future.  Some of our churches are declining and looking for ways to "do a new thing."  We are working on our conference capital campaign, updating our use of technology and building collegial relationships throughout the denomination.  What am amazing year so far! We have done some good work together - I hope you think so.  

But I also learned some important lessons (that apparently I have to keep learning until I get it right!).  I learned that can sometime over-do and over-commit.  I learned that I am a better pastor to our churches when I am a better wife and mother to my family.  I learned that I am more creative when I turn the computer off, and less stressed if I don't watch the news at night.  I learned that talking on the phone is often more fun than typing an email (but I am not giving email up!).  I learned that working with people you like, doing a job you love, is better than almost anything else in the world.  In other words, I learned that "dancing" for me has a lot to do with pace, rhythm, harmony and accompaniment.  

As we head into the fall, life's rhythm is picking back up again.  But this season, I am going to take the time to watch the leaves turn as I am driving to your church for our next visioning meeting.  I am going to call just to check in - with no particular reason in mind - so that we stay connected in this wonderful, crazy calling of ministry.  I am going to read more books, drink more water, swim more laps and sing in my car.  

And in the midst of it all - I am going to DANCE!  Will you join me?