12.16.2007

Lessons in Reckless Dancing

So I visited a church a few weeks back and heard a message that has pretty much haunted me. It lurks in the recesses of my mind throughout the day and at night as I fall asleep it glides to the front of my mind, sweeping all other thoughts away as if they are mere bits of dust on a shelf. To engage in it is to admit flaw, to face inadequacy and acknowledge my human heart.

It was sermon on David. And I’ve yet to dance as David danced so I love messages on David, hoping to take away something from his life and faith to help me dance a little more…liberated : ) But it wasn’t a message on how he praised, or on how he trusted God and killed Goliath, or how he wrote such wonderful psalms. The text for the morning was 1 Samuel 11. David and Bathsheba. I fought tuning out, thinking it would be something I’d heard before but I focused in and was quite surprised.

Pastor Josh Hebert raised the question how did David even get to the place where as king, he watched his men go off to war, where as king he stood on his rooftop and indulged his fantasy. How did David, the man we esteem for great and intimate faith, reach this place of comfort? How did a man who had everything, who had lived so well, seen so much, experienced it all, how did he reach this point?

Josh’s answer is what haunts me…it was thanklessness. Had David reached a place where in spite of everything he had, in spite of the blessings the Lord had given, in spite of it all he was unthankful?

It makes sense. I must admit, when I am unthankful the ugly side of my humanness comes tumbling out…the envy, the greed, the coveting, the lust, the anger, the biting tongue, no matter the object of my unthankful attitude and heart, it all spills out and over simply because I cannot see the many great gifts I have in my hand. I refuse to let myself be satisfied with Christ alone.

So I find myself haunted by a message on the dangers of not being thankful and being pursued by job and monetary struggles. And I can’t help but think they go hand in hand. I have to remind myself each day as I wake and as I drift to sleep, be thankful for the provisions. Be thankful for the big love of a great God. Be thankful, just be thankful.

And dance. Dance with a recklessness to rival David…well, at least try to : )