Life often feels like navigating a series of contrasting moments. Just as the book of Ecclesiastes (3:1-15) beautifully articulates, there is “a time for every activity under the heavens.” This resonates deeply as I think of a dear friend in Florida. While Hurricane Ian spared her home, she’s weathered far greater storms in her life. Losing her adult son to cancer, and then facing the same diagnosis herself shortly after, has been a trial beyond comprehension. Her doctors are astounded by her resilience, as her body has endured countless treatments, battling a relentless disease. One can’t help but ask, hasn’t this family suffered enough?
Ecclesiastes speaks to these very mysteries of life’s ebb and flow, the stark contrasts between joy and sorrow: “a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” These verses paint a picture of life’s unpredictable rhythm, much like the constant churning of ocean waves. Personally, I find it challenging to quickly shift between these emotional extremes, to move from joy to sorrow and back again. It’s especially heart-wrenching to witness the suffering of loved ones and try to make sense of it all.
Scripture offers solace in understanding that our lives are intertwined with a divine plan. I strive to align my thoughts with this truth, even when understanding feels distant. Ecclesiastes 3:11 states, “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Could this be the quiet whisper in our hearts? The sense of eternity placed within us, reflecting the eternal nature of God. It’s a concept that can stir restlessness within as we grapple with its immensity. St. Augustine poignantly captured this sentiment, saying, “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.”
When I try to decipher life’s complexities, my heart can indeed become troubled. Each day requires a conscious choice to surrender to the currents of life, placing them in the hands of a Heavenly Father who understands the intricate dance of seasons we experience. Despite the mysteries that surround our earthly existence, choosing trust remains paramount. And beyond trust, there’s an invitation to dance, to find our own rhythm within His divine timing. This notion is beautifully encapsulated in the lyrics of the song “I Hope You Dance”:
“I hope you never lose your sense of wonder. You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger. May you never take one single breath for granted. God forbid love ever leave you empty handed. I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean. Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens. Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance, and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance. I hope you dance….I hope you dance.” (LeAnn Rimes, “Hope You Dance”)
These lyrics resonate deeply because they speak to the essence of living with hope and resilience. The “dance” is a metaphor for embracing life in its fullness, even amidst uncertainty and pain. It’s about maintaining wonder, gratitude, and faith, choosing to engage with life rather than passively observing from the sidelines. The song encourages us to keep our “hunger” for life, to appreciate every breath, and to remain open to love. It acknowledges the vastness of the world (“feel small beside the ocean”) and the inevitable closures we face (“whenever one door closes”), yet it instills hope for new beginnings (“I hope one more opens”).
The powerful line, “Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,” underscores the importance of faith as an active choice, a source of strength in navigating life’s challenges. And finally, the repeated refrain, “when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance,” is a call to action. It’s an encouragement to participate fully in life, to embrace its rhythms, and to find joy and meaning even in the face of sorrow. The choice to “dance” is a choice to hope, to believe, and to live with intention and spirit.
To my beloved Sally, and to all my dear friends who carry eternity in their hearts, facing their own unique seasons of life, I echo the sentiment of the song: I Hope We Dance! May we all find the strength and the spirit to dance through whatever life brings, trusting in a rhythm that is greater than our own understanding.
