45+ and Still Dancing

I got up from the last contortionist position of my morning physical therapy with a smile and found myself eyes closed, smiling, "busting a groove" in my room.  My iPod has been playing praise songs into my brain, my heart has been praying for my kids, my mind was thinking about all the cool things (too many) that I get to do in the coming weeks, and I was organizing my day so that I could spend some time this afternoon with my family.

Then it dawned on me : I was cutting a happy groove.  Dancing in my room like I was a kid.  I would like to say that I was uninhibited because no one was home but really, even at 45+, I would still dance no matter who was around (well maybe not a the next pastor's association meeting - unless it had worship time).  I have had some seemingly dark times, some times where I found myself growing, some times where I was oppressed but I am still very happy.

"Better to have loved and lost..." goes the old saying.  "It rains on the just and unjust..." goes the Biblical proverb.  I really love God.  I really love my family.  I really love my Church.  I really love my brothers and sisters in Christ.  I am having fun.

I love that I can still dance (you know, I won the Disco Contest in 9th grade dancing with one of my teachers!).  I love it that God can still blow a fresh and joyous wind in my heart.  I am glad that when I am disciplined to rest, to eat well, to pray, to study and to slow down that He fills me and helps to order and control my life.

I can't imagine just going to work, punching the clock, coming home to TV or going to the game.  I can't imagine how boring it would be to not have friends, laughing and fun.  I can't imagine how horrible it would be to be constantly unhappy.  Without Him, without time with Him, I would certainly go back to my self centered, less joyous life.

Christ is Good!  Christ is God!  He has entirely changed me over the years and that goes for today as well.  I can not wait until worship on Sunday with my Church.  I can't wait to see him in the eyes of all of the other people who are full of joy because they have worshipped.  I can't wait to see the exponetially growing power as we come together with smiles from days of joy during the week.

I really wonder if some of my friends get jazzed and dance or, if when reading this, they wonder if I have absolutely lost it!  I hope that they find time to stop and find their groove - He is faithful to show it.