Move
I love to dance. It’s something that is pretty quickly learned about me by others. I’m by no means a particularly gifted dancer either. Most of the time it looks like a lot of jumping. But I LOVE to dance.
I’ve spent more time this year of life dancing than I ever have. But this year I have also recognized so much reason to dance.
For a total of a few months spread out this year I couldn’t dance. I couldn’t really move. I spent a lot of time being couch-bound leading up to and recovering from surgeries. The pain beforehand was debilitating, and the recovery process, while a beautiful gift, was still long and difficult.
Partially due to my physical health, but also due to other factors, this year hit an incredibly low point for me mentally as well. I felt so overwhelmed by pain in my life and I did not think I could handle it anymore.
2024 started with so much brokenness and darkness. There was a point in this year where I just was sitting with God absolutely alone just the two of us. I was crying out about my pain to Him. It was a hard talk and I spent a couple days wrestling through some really big questions with Him. That time with Him broke me down in the best ways. I fought with my pride and my desire for control. I finally quit holding onto things I was desperately clinging to.
There was still plenty of growth with those things over the following months. That week didn’t suddenly mold me into the perfect human. It took some time to finish releasing certain things, and I have by no means “accomplished” letting go of my desire for control to God.
But that week made a radical impact on my walk along that path. When new hurdles were thrown at me I saw myself reacting differently than I would have in the past. I’ve watched myself grow in how I handle new things that are gifts as well as struggles.
Everything I walked through this year influences why I dance so much. The times where I couldn’t move my body have left me celebrating every time I can move it. The spots of darkness I didn’t think I would make it through have left me celebrating the goodness of God that I am alive and able to dance.
