R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Thoughts

“Go to life’s dance. Life is a wonder, lived in a blink.” Christine and Harry Beckwith in You, Inc.

“Every day is an invitation to life’s dance.” E.B. White said that of Thoreau’s lust for life. Life is a dance and we are all invited to join in. I know during a midlife divorce recovery journey, dancing isn’t something you feel like doing. The words “dirge, or mourning or sadness come to mind more than dancing or celebrating. But you know what, life is so short! Why waste time wallowing in our sadness and mourning for longer than we need to? Real life situations sometimes have to be mourned, but then after the purifying cleansing of our tears, we must move on. We can’t stay in “sackcloth and ashes” forever as some ancient customs required. Life is a breath, a vapor, a wildflower that blooms for a season and then is gone. So live life for the full, amazing wonder it is. Experience it completely. Don’t be afraid of its struggles. Don’t give in to pessimism and despair. Don’t stay in a place that is only meant to refine you for better things. I think sometimes the purpose of suffering is to make us more aware of the transitory nature of life… to make us hunger for the music and the joy… to make us want to dress up and get to the whirling dance before it’s too late. So, thank God that you have the gift of life. Thank him for every single good thing you experience today. Today may be all you have. Don’t let someone else destroy your dance. You were born to dance and to sing and to see the wonder of it all. So, today, dance for all you’re worth!

“You have turned my mourning into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.” Psalm 30:11-12 (NIV)