Jitterbugging

The Christian journey or Spiritual life has sometimes been likened to a dance. There is the struggle of letting God lead, there is the struggle of keeping up with the rythmn and the pace. Well I'm pretty sure this weekend I was jitterbugging with Jesus!

Many weeks ago, a friend called and asked if I would be able to come to his church and talk about my trip(s) to Mozambique and just share my experiences with the people and the country as his church was thinking about a mission trip in the future. I was glad to have the chance to share my pictures and stories as I haven't done that since I got back in August. So that got on the books, Sunday 6:30 about a two hour drive from home. Great!

Then about 4 weeks ago we received an invitation for a 90th birthday celebration for a dear saint of the church and she asked that I would come and offer the prayer for the meal and of course for the joy of the day. That was on Saturday at 4:00. Great!

Three weeks ago, I had the joy of talking with a woman who had gone through our Grief Support group about three years ago after her husband died of a long illness. Her mourning had turned to dancing and she was getting married to an old High School classmate that she had been reintroduced to at a recent reunion. He too had lost his wife to cancer and a long illness. It is a wonderful thing to be able to see God draw a circle in someone's life and heal the sadness of loss with the joy of reunion. She asked that I officiate at a small family wedding. That would be Saturday at 7:30!.....OK...hmmm, Great!

On Thursday I received a call that a 95 year old child of God had died. She was the beloved mother of one of our church members and had moved to a local nursing home from Iowa a few years back. Our member asked that I officiate at the funeral, 1:00 on Saturday...hmmm...well...yes, Lord...OK. Next day - wait a minute, out of town family can't make it until later, how about Saturday at 3:00? By this time, I'm smiling and seeing what God is up to...OK, I'll step it up a notch. Sure, Great!

Now don't forget I'm also shuttling my football player to practices Friday and Saturday, chaperoning a party at my dtrs middle school, a game on Friday night, laundry, house cleaning...will I ever get to cook for my family again?

But here it is Monday and while I am too pooped to take one more step, what a great dance it was. To honor a dear woman at her memorial service, to join two who had been brokenhearted together to heal their hurts, to celebrate the abundance God continues to give to a nonagenarian, and to worship God amidst a very busy morning and then to culminate by talking about one of the most fascinating and wonderful people and place on earth - I was high stepping and had my flats on! Spun around a few times and even had an encounter with a very gracious Vienna police man who clocked me at 51 in a 35. I think he knew I was headed home and beyond tired. He let me go with a warning and I am grateful and slowed down the rest of the way home.

Thanks be to God for grace to serve, for perseverance when fatigued, for inspiration when needed and for comfort to all who mourn.

I'll take a simple slow dance for just alittle while and then get back to the rock and roll. Thank you Lord, it was great!