As I write this I’m listening to a young man play the drums and sing. He is drumming like there is no tomorrow and singing with wild abandon.
You can tell that he is enjoying what he is doing and as I look at him now I notice that he is head over heels in love with music. He doesn’t notice the strange looks from passersby; he doesn’t hear notes or sounds that are less than perfect and I am fascinated by his passion.
As I watch and listen I can’t help but ask myself, “when was the last time I did anything with such abandon?” I fear that it has been a very long time. Last Sunday in church we sang, “When the Spiriting of the Lord.” I heard myself sing, “When the Spirit of the Lord comes on my heart I will dance like David danced.” “I will sing, I will pray, I will dance like David danced.”
Scripture tells us that when David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem he was so happy, so in love and connected to God that he leaped, twirled and sashayed his way into the city. What a day! What a day!
But wait a minute, I’m happy, I’m in love and I’m connected so why can’t I just let go of my inhibitions and dance? I guess it has a lot to do with age, the reactions of others and feelings of self-consciousness.
So many times in life we let go only to be told we should have held back, we learn to behave in a dignified manner, one that is in keeping with adulthood. Why I can remember being told to shush, to settle down and to grow up and now I’m so grown up that I can hardly remember what it was like to be young and take no notice of such silly advice.
Maybe it also has to do with the responsibilities of adulthood, at times we are so weighted down with the pressures of work and family that joy and laughter seem like they belong in our memories and not our day to day life.
As Christians we read that joy, delight and happiness is ours, unfortunately as Christians we seem to be afraid to show it least we are judged frivolous or silly. The Bible though tells a different story, the author of the Bible seems to have different expectations.
“Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.” – Psalm 149:3
“Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” James 5:13b
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.” Habakkuk 3:18
And of course Psalm 35:27-28, “May those who delight in My vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, ‘The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of His servant.’ My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.”
Here is my advice to myself; you may follow it if you wish. Love the Lord and show it! “Dance like no one is watching, love like you’ll never be hurt, sing like no one is listening and live like it’s heaven on earth.”- William Purkey
Deb Vanderheyden is a captain with the Salvation Army in Quesnel.