Friday Freelance: FRIVOLITY

"The pursuit of pleasure is not optional. It is essential."
~ John Piper, from the book Desiring God

Friday Freelance: FRIVOLITY

Even Colorado mountains don't stun me as much with their inconceivable vistas as the impossible hues of Michigan autumn I've seen this week. Like a masterpiece in progress, each day's art reveals a new touch of the Creator. This is my season of wonder.

Yet I've been far more astounded by the variety of praise revealed to me in recent years.

Some twenty years ago, I attended a Messianic worship service. For the first time I witnessed worship dance, and was immediately captivated. I had never observed praise expressed with such beauty and reverence. The experience was tucked away in the back of my mind.

I went on to learn many other things about my Jesus. I obsessively read the Bible with which I'd fallen in love. Over two decades, I found many capacities in which to share and serve: teaching, speaking, administrative tasks, prayer, service.

Beyond service and sharing, my soul contained a deep desire to praise my God. I sang from a hymnal on Sundays. I praised privately with prayer, song, and even dance at home. But I yearned to praise using all my heart-soul-mind-strength, joined to others who felt as I did.

Our church forbade such expressions, especially any music with a beat. Thin tolerance was eventually accorded to acoustic guitars. Outside our church, I managed to touch worship dance. I assisted for two semesters with elementary worship dance students. I began to worship with a Messianic congregation when I visited Denver, and a couple of times joined their worship dance impromptu. But within our church, dance was never a consideration. It was taught that the original Hebrew references to dance in the Bible meant "marching," not dance as we know it. I knew such definition was an error, but there were more important hills to risk dying upon.

Such hills split our church in 2002. The Lord finally gave us permission to leave in 2007, by which time I thought my soul might shrivel up with thirst to express exuberant praise. And every time I observed worship dance, my heart would break to see such beauty poured out to God.

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
~ Psalms 37:3-4 (NKJV)

In His goodness, the Lord brought us to a new church where praise is given priority, and excellence marks our choir and orchestra. Dance has also tantalized, but always just outside my reach. In the spring of 2008, I had opportunity to either dance or obtain training in jail ministry. I went with the latter, since I have eternity to dance, but only a few years on earth to minister to others. In fall of 2008 dance for the Christmas presentation was planned but fell through, and I found myself instead on drama team, which proved a match made in Heaven. This last summer, I joined the Sunday evening praise team, and now help lead singing twice a month.

All the while, I've contented myself with the prayer, "Lord, could You just be sure I'm put on Heaven's dance team?" On Earth I'll practice arts such as writing, drama and music, which speak words to edify. The utter frivolity of worship and praise in dance must wait for eternity.

A month ago, I learned that part of the presentation this Christmas is a magnificent piece of music which our orchestra will play, our choir will sing—to which worshipers will dance. I plan to be among them.

It's hard work. My brain doesn't want to remember French words like degagé, demi-pliés and tendu, and my feet don't want to move that way. I stretch and fumble and practice, practice, practice. I concentrate on the music's tempo rather than its majesty.

Then the soloist sings "Holy, holy, holy." My face is pressed into the dust of the floor in worship. I slowly lift my arms in praise and my feet begin to glide through the fluid movements of angels. Every fiber of my being—heart, soul, mind and strength—is given over with abandon to the praise of my King, joined with others of like minds.

I am transported to another realm. Heaven has arrived on Earth.

And I am lost in the frivolity of eternity.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.