I Want Some Dancing Shoes!

Chase Brandon Guiling - 1 of

the 8 reasons I want to dance,

Great g'son #2

Back in the day as they say, approximately 35-40 years ago, we had a very active Jaycee/Jaycee Wives group in Bloomfield of which Ken & I were members along with many of our friends. We did/sponsored many community activities, probably the stellar one being the 4th of July fireworks display. These "bangers" were expensive, dangerous, & back then, our guys were the ones who stood on that hill across from our beautiful city park at the end of the day & set them off for the hundreds who flocked from all over the area for the display. 

 

We were younger & more carefree for the most part, raising our families, making a living, doing those things that life requires, but we did enjoy getting together & having a good time when the Jaycees would sponsor a fun activity. They would have dances at the country club, usually as a fund raiser, & I will never forget the first time we thought about going to one. I hadn't danced since high school, and not much then, since Ken couldn't go to the prom or other activities because he was from another town & already out of school. He asked me about attending, & being one not wanting to miss out on anything, I really wanted to be there; yet, I always felt guilty & embarrassed about dancing, didn't feel I was very good at it, (I'm still not great) & mom always thought going to dances was equated with sinfulness & I always relied on her to babysit. I couldn't lie even if I wanted to, because I knew Rhonda would gladly report that mom & dad went dancing at the country club!  The only thing mom has ever approved of at the cc is the swimming pool & that is if you purchased your sodas outside.

Ken & I decided to be brave, tell mom that the dance proceeds were going to the children's home (as I recall, I think that's the gospel)& that I sure did need the exercise & named a few people who were going that I thought might meet her approval (or at least their parents, including a couple of preachers), bought our jeans, cowboy hats, boots, & off we went. Well, Ken took to dancing like a duck to water. He thoroughly enjoyed it. I just love music, music, music as well as dancing, even though I'm a bit awkward. We really enjoyed those times together with these good folks & have some great memories. They made many contributions to our community. Now our children have taken over that task & are doing a great job. Not that we're not still out there, but, speaking for myself, not as often.

Yesterday morning at Trinity, we had a bluegrass group who provided our music comprised of Tony & Maggie Thorn, Dale & Cis Williams, & Eric Pendergrass. We have an up & coming young lady, Ashton White, who I think is about 6 years old & is under Maggie's tutelage, who sang "I'll Fly Away" along with Maggie & the congregation. They were over the top with 2 or 3 guitars, a bass & a banjo - you want to talk about some pickers for Jesus!  I just wanted to dance, dance, dance. I know now what people say when they talk about dancing in the spirit. Alas, I'm sure if I had done that, 911 would have had to have been called out, & I'm hoping they, too, were in church somewhere. I hope they were enjoying it as much as I was. Am I too childlike, overly emotional, etc.? I just wonder why we just all sit quietly in a pew when our spirits are speaking something else to us?  I know we have to have order in services & respect for those around us - no one wants chaos. I'm speaking of JOY,  the sheer JOY of thanking & praising God. 

He has given me many reasons to dance during my lifetime. Since I'm not quality dancing material & haven't had a dancing partner for several years, I'll save my "talent" for other times & places yet to come. As I've stated before, I'm fully convinced we'll dance before Him; what a beautiful sight to see - all those who were unable for whatever rhyme or reason to dance before Him & not have to worry whether or not someone will ask you to dance. All our dance cards will be maxed out when we fly away!