Blog 399 – 09.09.2016

The TV series “11-22-63” that I recommend to all who have not seen it ends with a beloved retired high school librarian who has been named Woman of the Year by the Texas Governor reading a poem. Sadie Dunhill reads the following:

     “We did not ask for this room or this music. We were invited in. Therefore, because the darkness surrounds us, let us face the light.
“Let us endure hardship to be grateful for plenty. We have been given pain to be astounded by joy. We have been given life to deny death.
“We did not ask for this room or this music. But because we are here let us dance.”

I grew up in a religious tradition that taught against going to the movies, smoking, drinking, and dancing. I never smoked or wanted too still because of all the movies I watched and all the pretty actresses who smoked I still think it is sexy to see a woman smoke. Probably not healthy but still sexy. But back to my point about dancing. To deny people dancing is to me akin to denying them music. I do not have a beautiful trained voice but I can make a joyful noise. I am no Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly or for you younger folks a Justin Timberlake on the dance floor. But I can shuffle my feet and sway to the music. And with a pretty woman in my arms I can move.

One of the most joyous times of my life was my high school prom dancing with one of the first young loves of my life. There is within each of us I think a spirit that longs to sing, longs to soar, longs to dance. As the beautiful country ballad says so eloquently, “If you get the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.” So grab a partner and get up off of that chair and show us what you’ve got.

Even Snoopy, the beloved Peanuts character, has a happy dance. And for all you Bible believing folk King David, the singer, danced before the LORD to express his joy.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White