What kind of dance are you preforming in going about your daily routine?  Are you part of a sacred dance, or is your dance one of survival.  Giving thought to these two dances can bring clarity as to who and what motivates our life choices.  In the “Sacred dance” we accept the invitation of God to enter into the dance of the Trinity, which has gone on from all eternity.  The “survival dance,” on the other hand, is our attempt to make it through the daily routine on our own.   Instead of being lead by the grace of God, we are constantly evaluating how we can survive by our wits. I would like to draw out the contrast between these two dances for us as men

First the “Sacred Dance.”  C.S. Lewis called this “the Great Dance.”  It is what has been going on from all eternity between the Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  From all eternity they have existed in perfect harmony in a community of love.  The love of the Trinity by nature desires to reach out and to create.  So as human, we were created to enter into this fellowship.  We read in Genesis 1:26 we read, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”  It has helped me greatly to see the Trinity as a dance to enter into, that is, a loving relationship,  rather then just simply a doctrinal truth, discribing the mystery of God.  God invites – He desires – He longs for our participation.  For this we have been created.  It is built into our spiritual DNA.  The spiritual journey is paying heed to the invitation to the dance. 

What a contrast when we try to describe our “dance of survival.”  You can use your own words to describe what it is like.  We all know the dance.  It is so easy to get caught up in “making” life work, while we try to manage all the pieces.  We live a self-enclosed life, doing our best to control circumstances, trying to   understand with our limited perspective.  It feels like survival.  It reminds me of Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way of death.”  This survival dance produces anxiety, guilt, loneliness and the great dread of wondering where is this dance is really headed

My strong encouragement to us men is to give up trying to dance on our own.  Reach out to the hand that invites you into the sacred dance.  I know for myself, my rhythm is off and on.  There are times when I am dancing to my own tune.  I need to stop long enough to pay attention to the voice of the Spirit within calling me to participate in the life of the Trinity.   I have to choice of either going on in the survival mode or reaching out for the hand that invites me into the dance.  That invitation is always present.  Remember Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18).  So the question becomes, “Whose tune are you dancing to?”