I Hope You Dance

Several years ago, a noted Southeastern Conference football coach was a little bit frustrated with his team. It seems that they had a lot of talent but it just wasn’t showing in practice or on the field. Were they just not interested? Did they care? So, he sat them down and had them listen to a country music song by Lee Ann Womack in hope that it would inspire them. Here are a few of the verses of her song, “I hope you dance”.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

As parishioners of St. Paul’s Parish, we have many opportunities to “dance”. We can do this by

becoming involved in stewardship via one of the 58 current ministries instead of sitting on the sidelines.   These ministries give us plenty of opportunities to share our time, talent and treasure. Even so, while many of us are actively involved in parish ministries, some choose not to do so. Why? Here are some classic excuses and why they just don’t hold up in the light of day.

·        They have enough people already. Well, that’s not always the case and in scripture it says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” (1 Peter 4:10).

·        I’m not holy enough.  Again, it is written, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) And no matter the stage of life you're in or what your past has been, God wants to use you now!

·        I don’t have the time. What could be more important than time given in service to your Lord and Savior?    In (Luke 16:13) it says "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other….”

·        I don’t have any special talent. Not true.  "Just as each of us has one body with many parts, and these parts perform different functions, so in Christ we, who are many, become one body, each member belonging to all the others in order to function as a whole. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." (Romans 12:4-6a).

·        I’m not into self- edification. Good because that’s not what God expects of you either. Following his example, our Lord expects you to be a Servant Leader. He made it very clear to his disciples when He found them arguing among themselves. “Whomever wishes to be first, shall be the last of all and the servant of all” (Mark 10:35)

 Those who serve in a ministry often say that they feel truly blessed and that they “receive much more from serving others, than what they feel they give”. So, with that in mind, my prayer for all parishioners on the sidelines is that you “dance” and keep these verses from another song uppermost in your mind.

I danced for the Scribes and the Pharisees
They wouldn't dance, they wouldn't follow me
I danced for the fishermen James and John
They came with me so the dance went on
Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the dance, said He
And I lead you all, wherever you may be

And I lead you all in the dance, said He.

'Lord of the Dance' by Sidney Carter 

Post by J.G.