Lets Learn To Dance

By Dick Stoddard

There is an appointed time for everything . . . and everything is beautiful when it is in God's time. That is what the Bible says (Ec.3:1,11). In other words, God has a plan for each one of us, for everything we are to be and do. He has not created us like robots; we have a free will to make our own decisions. Because He loves us so, our Heavenly Father uses many different ways, including people, things, and circumstances to help us make the right choices, without violating our freedom to choose.

Sometimes I wonder if some of the creatures realized how God was using them. Did they hear the voice of God and obey? Like the donkey that spoke audibly to Balaam when he wanted to plot out his own course (Num.22:28- 30); the great fish God prepared to save the life of Jonah; (Jon.1:17); the fish that brought tax money to Peter (Matt.17:27); the ravens that brought food to Elijah (1 Kin.17:4); and the "never before sat on colt" that gave Jesus a triumphant ride through Jerusalem (Mk.11:2). I wonder if they knew they were in on a plan of God.

That is what I wonder about an animal that lived with me for eight years. To say the least, he was a very special dog that fetched for me some great lessons about dancing. The kind of dance I am talking about is one that takes real harmony, the right rhythm, and knowing how to take the right steps in life. It is the kind of dance we need in order to stay on the pathway of the wonderful journey meant for us on the road of life.

To get in on the dance we must be willing to step out and be really honest. Let me tell you some of the things God is teaching me about that through this special pet.

It began about ten years ago when my wife, Roberta, and I were driving through a nearby town with our friend, Becky, who asked if we would stop at her friend's house so she could pick up something. After we pulled in the driveway and waited as she went into her house, I noticed in their yard a dog sitting in the back of a pickup truck. It was a beautiful Gordon Setter that reminded me of an Irish Setter we used to have and loved, except this one was mostly black instead of red.

I didn't think Becky's friends would mind if I took a look at their dog, but then I did something I would never do to a strange dog in the back of a stranger's pick up truck: I gave it a big hug. I didn't know what came over me to do that, to have such a love for that dog. I prayed, "Lord, if I ever have another dog, this is the one I would want."

Then I thought, "What am I doing?! I don't want to covet another man's dog! There are children in this household; this is a family's pet. I am being very foolish; I must put this dog out of my mind!" and prayed again, " Lord, please cancel that prayer!" I told nobody about this incident, not even my wife, and quickly put it out of my mind.

A whole year later, Becky told me that a friend, Linda, had three dogs that were getting to be too much for her to handle and wanted to find a good home for one of them. I quickly said, "No thanks!" I tried to explain to her how hard it was for us to lose a pet, and that many years ago we had agreed on "no more dogs!" She didn't seem to hear a word I said and went right on speaking, telling me about a young, beautiful Gordon Setter dog that we could freely receive.

Suddenly it dawned on me that it was the same dog I had hugged a year ago in the back of the pickup, which I had forgotten about until now. I told her it would not be easy but that I would run it by Roberta and let her know what we decide.

When I got home, I said very timidly, "Honey . . . how would you like another dog?" She answered, "No! No more hair, no more fleas!"; then she went on to tell of all the other advantages of not owning a dog. I knew she was right but asked her to pray about it in case it was something the Lord wanted to give us. That was no problem for she is always willing to pray.

During her prayer time, the Lord showed her that the problem was not about getting another dog but it was an area of control still in her life. Years ago both of us had asked the Lord to set us free from the control bondage that destroys so many lives, and He has been doing a work within us that brings us deeper and deeper into the freedom of not having to control or be controlled.

Several days later Roberta told me that the Lord had given her a peace about it and she would not mind getting the dog; in fact, it appeared to me as if she almost wanted it. Then I reminded her how nice it was not being tied down with a pet. After several weeks we did decide to take it but when Becky told that to her friend, Linda, she was informed that things had changed, for the dog was like a member of the family and she didn't want to part with it. Her husband confirmed it with an e-mail and we both were relieved. So now it was settled and I thought how nice it was to not have the responsibility of owning a dog. But that viewpoint soon was to be challenged.

One morning, about two years from the day I first hugged that dog, just before I awoke, the Lord gave me a dream about an old dog I had many years ago. In the dream I knew he had died long ago, but now he was with me, and I couldn't understand how that could be. But rather than trying to figure it out, I decided to just have a good time enjoying my dog. Then I woke up thinking it was a rather unusual dream and soon forgot about it.

That very same day at noontime, while I was out in my driveway shoveling snow, Linda's husband came by to ask if I still wanted the dog. He said they had definitely decided to give him away and if I didn't take him, he would find someone else who would. I explained to him how even though we lived in a big house, our living area was small and asked if we took the dog and it didn't work out, would he be willing to take it back. He said, "Absolutely!" I told him I would let him know our decision very soon, then hurried into the house to tell Roberta about the dog and the dream I had early that morning.

After we prayed we both felt this must be a gift from God! I forgot about the "take back" deal and we went and picked up the dog. What a pet! What a gift! We had such a good time with him. Was he a watchdog? Well . . . he would watch me, all the time. Was he a guard dog? Well . . . he would greet rather than bark at any stranger who came to the door, but he would sit on a picnic table and guard my donuts. As time went by some people were amused at how good we were to that dog; what they didn't realize was how good he was to us. When we got him his name was Eamon, but I soon dropped the E and changed it to Amon. If anyone told me what a good dog I had, I would say, "Amen!"

He liked to sleep late in the mornings except when somehow he knew we had a trip planned for the day. At times I wondered if he could read my mind, also, if he could read a clock, because every weekday morning, just before ten o'clock, he would come to where I was working to remind me it was time to go to the post office to get the mail, then to the coffee shop, where he would wait in the van for me to come out and take him to a place we both enjoyed. Usually it was up a small, nearby mountain with a beautiful view at the top, a little duck pond and plenty of room to roam. We would visit this place most every day even in the winter months, because the road was plowed and my van had all-wheel drive.

One morning each week I would break the routine and go to the gym with a friend to shoot some baskets. Amon knew he was not invited and when he saw me get ready to leave the house with a basketball in my hands, would go in the bedroom and lay down behind the bed. He would still greet me when I got home and then stick close for the rest of the day.

At times he could be a little stubborn, like mornings when we were up on the mountain and after an hour or so it would be time for me to go home for lunch and get back to work. Amon would follow me to the van, but stop and stand or lay down about fifty feet before we got to it—one of our few little struggles in our great friendship. I would have to walk back to him and again say, "Come on . . . let's go!" Then he would finally begin to move but only a short distance before he would veer to the right, then to the left, and I would have to keep getting him back on track. He wanted so much to be obedient but found that was not always an easy thing to do.

One day I began to realize how much he loved being with me at that place, so I decided to try a different approach when it came time to leave. I simply went straight to the van, opened the side door for him, then got in and sat in the driver's seat. Without fail, within a few moments, I would see him through the side rear- view mirror get up and walk—in slow motion—straight forward and jump up into the van. Now that was a demonstration of real love from both of us and that was a nice way to harmonize (dance).

About six years after we first received Amon, he began, at times, to hold up his back right foot. We took him to the vet and nothing serious showed up on the x-ray; he was almost ten years old and we thought it was arthritis. About a year later he could only use three legs; this time an x-ray showed it was bone cancer. Due to his age we decided, along with the doctor, that it was best not to put him through an operation. Other than getting around on three legs, he seemed to be very active, healthy and in no pain. I made ramps for him where needed, both for the house and van. I thought there might be at least a year or more for him to be with us.

Only a few months passed when I noticed he was not his usual self, a dog that had such a love for life; still, he wanted to go with me to the mountain. When we got there I knew this was not a day for walking. I sat down in one of my favorite spots and he laid on the grass a short distance from me. I had no idea it was the last day we would be together in that place.

After a short while he got up, limped back and climbed up his ramp into the van. I took him home and he seemed to do better for the rest of the day, but the next day he couldn't stand up for both his back legs had given out. I made him a low cart bed with wheels so we could move him around, but he had a lot of trouble being comfortable in it. He tried so hard to do the things we wanted him to do; but even though he could not move his two back legs, I noticed he could still wag his tail. He never seemed to complain or show signs of pain. I knew—and I think he knew—the time of his departure was near, and I believe he was trying to help me get through it.

That night after I went to bed I heard a little whimper and knew he needed to go outside. Roberta helped me to place him on a blanket but we had an awfully hard time trying to pick him up and carry him. Finally we got him out in the back yard but he could not stand up or do what he needed to do. It took a lot of effort to get him back in the house and onto his bed. The rest of the night he slept much more than I did and next morning he was awake early, head up, alert, looking at me as if he were saying, "Come on, let's learn to dance!" We could read each other like a book! He knew it was not time to go to the mountain, and he knew what I was broken hearted about and what I was going to have to do. I really think he wanted to help me to get going and get it over with.

As soon as the vet's office opened, I called and made the arrangements; then we managed to lift Amon up enough to slide a towel under his stomach so I could raise up his hind-end. With his two good front legs he did a big push- up, and onward we went. He was determined to keep going. We headed through the kitchen, up the ramp into the computer room, through the mail-room out to the loading dock and down the ramp into the van. For me it was both awfully hard and almost easier than it should be!

So was the forty-five minute drive to the vets. There the doctor came out to the van with his assistant, gently slid a stretcher under the dog and carried him in and placed him on a table. Amon gave no resistance and still looked alert and happy. And then I gave him a good-by hug. Roberta did the same and then followed me out into the waiting room. A few moments later we went in to have a last look and place our hands on the peaceful looking body of our departed, beloved pet.

On the drive home we stopped at a Wal- Mart store and when I was walking in the parking lot someone passing by said to me, "Hi Dick, how are you?" I didn't get a good look at him and didn't even know who it was, and my answer was the same as always, "Good. How are you?" I didn't hear his reply but before I had taken many steps I heard my conscience tell me I had lied and to get real. The truth was that I was feeling lousy!

I felt so miserable, that later in the afternoon I went to be alone at the peaceful, quiet place, with the beautiful view and little duck pond, the place I have often called the most beautiful place in the world. But this time my beloved dog was not with me.

I drove up the half mile gravel road to the top of the small mountain, then walked to one of my favorite rest spots, sat down and began to bawl. That was not what I went there to do. The place was not the same, something had changed; I found myself weeping so much I had to get out of there. On the short drive home I turned off the teardrops but they started flowing again when I walked into the kitchen and said to my wife, "I may never go to that place again!"

I knew she, too, was hurting but handling it far better than me. She spoke of how God's grace is getting us through this and it would all turn out for good. I knew that, but still felt lousy. That night I went to bed earlier than usual and it was too hot to pull the covers over my head.

Somehow I was still able to get a good night's sleep. When I got up and looked out the wide open window beside my bed at our beautiful backyard view, there were the mountains, trees, cornfields, hayfields and a nice clear river, which happens to be named Israel River. This area was another of my favorite places to walk with Amon with a pathway starting right from the back of my yard; but this time when I looked at it, I thought that I might have to stop walking there.

I tried to put that out of my mind as I went into the bathroom to take my early morning shower. Then while getting dressed I did my usual thing about leaving my sneakers untied until I walked into the living room to sit on a comfortable sofa. I had a reason for making that a habit: Amon's bed was right beside the sofa and that is where he would be in the morning.

As I was about to step out of the bathroom in my untied shoes, the shock of reality hit me that my beloved dog would not be there by the sofa for me to pat as I tied them. I said to myself, "I can't sit there anymore; it just will hurt too much!" Then a very gentle thought came to my heart that it was important to make myself go and sit on the sofa.

I did it even though there was no dog to pat; but as I was tying my shoes, my Heavenly Father spoke to my heart and revealed that what was happening was an ending of an eight year plan that He had appointed for my life.

I love it when God reveals to me something He is doing in my life. Hearing that set in motion a healing that began to turn my inner pain into a thing of joy. Even though I was in a time of mourning, hearing from the Lord that I am living in a plan of His was a reason to celebrate!

Later that morning I began to think about skipping my coffee break because I knew someone at the store might say to me, "Hi" and "How are you?" I didn't know how I might answer that; grown men are not supposed to burst into tears when they talk to someone. I didn't want to be regarded as a big softie, but I still decided to go because I didn't want to give up my coffee break.

I got by two clerks who usually give me the "How are you?" greeting, but this day they hardly noticed me. I was relieved by that and to see all the tables were empty. I took one way back in a corner and sat facing the wall in order not to be recognized by anyone who knew me. Then even before I could finish my coffee and donut a man named Tom sat down at a close by table and said, "Hi Dick. How are you?" This time I was real; I responded by telling him I was hurting and the reason why. Being real and honest by expressing my true feelings when someone greeted me and asked how I was, was like being in a cool breeze on a hot day. As I continued to do it, many would open their hearts when they spoke back to me; and rather than some shallow surface talk, friendly, helpful uplifting words were being shared.

However, it still was not always that easy a thing for me to do. Later that week, while entering the lobby of the post office, I passed by a man whom I didn't want to have anything to do with. The reason for that was because several years ago I saw him at his worst. He was standing on the street in front of my house in a complete rage, yelling the worst obscenities you could hear at a local police officer who kept a distance away. He is a big, broad, heavy man whom the policeman didn't want to aggravate. This commotion could be heard throughout the neighborhood; I heard it from inside my house and then saw it while looking out the window.

I knew the angry man lived in town, and after that, if he passed by me while walking on the sidewalk, I would try to avoid speaking to or making eye contact with him. This time I passed by the back of him as he was reading his mail at a counter and for some reason I greeted him and asked how he was. He did not turn around to see who was speaking as he mumbled, "How are you?" I softly answered, "Good" and went straight to my postal box. On my way out I quietly passed him again, but before I got to the door, stopped, turned back, went to his side and looking straight at him, told him I wasn't feeling good because I had lost my dog. Still looking at his mail he muttered, "What? Who died?" I said, "My dog died!"

While still leaning against the table, he turned his head toward me and said, "I took my dog to the vet. He gave me some medicine for her and that night she died." I noticed through his eyes and winkles in his round face that he'd had hard times. I asked how old his dog was and he said, "Eleven." I said, "My dog was eleven!" I asked how long ago his dog had died and he said, "Ten days." I was stunned and replied, "My dog died about ten days ago . . . I know how you feel and what you are going through." Then I turned and walked away. It was a strange but good experience. I don't know what will happen if we meet again. When I got home and told my wife about it, she said, "I've been praying for that man for many years!"

The other day an e-mail arrived from a dear, long time Christian friend who was praying for us. In the letter she told how she, too, loved Amon and that he left behind many lessons. As I thought about that, a memory of another greeting incident that happened thirty-five years ago came to my mind. Already I was being helped by a lesson from the Lord through my dog, even though he was no longer with me.

The memory was about a time when I visited a dear friend who was in the hospital. She was an older woman of faith who loved the Lord a lot and was a great inspiration and help to many. She was laying in bed going through the last stages of cancer. I walked in the room and called out, "Hi Mary. How are you?" She answered, "Oh, I'm fine." Then a sad look came over her face. I knew her so well that I could tell it was not from the pain of cancer but that she thought she had lied to me. Then I felt badly and started to go on a guilt trip for asking such an inappropriate question. But suddenly a thought came to me and I said, "Mary, you are fine! The real you that lives within is just fine." Then a big smile came over her face and she said, "THAT'S RIGHT!"

She had known the Lord well for many years, and that her physical body was just a temporary vehicle to get her around for the time she was here on earth; and that in Heaven it would be replaced with a glorious new one.

Through this memory I learned that when greeted with a "How are you?" I still can be real and honest and say, "Good!" even if I may feel lousy, because the real me is the new life God gave me forty-seven years ago when His Spirit revealed to me the finished work of His Son on the cross of Calvary and I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

What I am learning is to look at people when I speak to them, and if I tell them I am good when I feel bad, it is not being dishonest if I realize I am speaking about the great life I have in Christ. But if I am telling about my emotions or physical body at the present moment, the answer may be quite different.

Having said that, if my old dog were here now, I would say to him, "Thanks, old pal, for the dance lesson."

Here are some more things I have learned over the years about dancing.

There is a way for us to maintain a positive, joyful, hopeful, faith-filled way of life, regardless of outward circumstances. All we need to do is to learn to dance!

I am not suggesting that we should waltz along with the world! What I am saying is that the Bride of Christ needs to learn to dance with the Bridegroom! Not the ordinary, natural way of dancing and not the kind of dancing that some regard as spiritual. I want to learn to do things in a way that glorifies the Lord! I don't want to walk in the flesh; I want to walk in the Spirit (Gal.5:16). I want to move in harmony with God. I want to learn to dance!

But in order to dance, music is needed and the dance I am speaking of takes a special kind of melody that is nothing like some of the noise the world calls music. It is a kind that can keep me joyful throughout the whole day, regardless of what circumstances may occur. The Bible says, "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted" (Ps.89:15-16).

The elder brother of the prodigal son was working in the field at the time of his brother's return. Later in the day, as he departed from the field and drew near to his father's house, he heard music and dancing (Lu.15:25). He didn't enjoy what he was hearing because he had problems . . . really big problems; such as anger, unforgiveness, unthankfulness and judgment- alism, just to name a few. He was also shackled with that old, prideful, work-and-earn-it syndrome, which has no place in the kingdom of God. I certainly wouldn't list him as being one of the blessed people who know the joyful sound. Yes, he was a family member, dearly loved by his father, but he had a serious behavioral disorder. I think he could have used a few dance lessons!

There are people in the family of God who could identify with the elder brother because they have the same type of behavioral problems, but I surely don't want to be in that category! I am not like that brother, for I love to see people being blessed by God, and I myself love to be blessed by Him!

The word "music" means "harmony" and the word "dance" means "to move within that harmony." To dance in the Spirit is to move in harmony with God. I want to learn to be in harmony with Him in all I do! I want to learn to dance! That is the desire of my heart.

I believe we, who belong to Jesus, will be hearing the sound of music and dancing coming from our Heavenly Father's House when we are being escorted by angels and we draw near to Heaven's shore, after our departure from this old world; but I don't want to have to wait until then. I want to hear some of it now—while I am still here on earth!

The Bible says, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Ps.37:4). I do delight myself in the Lord! God knows this desire of my heart, and He has blessed me with some of His music and dancing. The music came to me in a dream I had not so long ago.

In my dream there was a man in the nearby background singing. I couldn't get a good view of him but I could hear his voice clearly. What I heard was the most purest, beautiful voice, singing the most purest, beautiful words, to the most purest, beautiful melody I have ever heard in my life.

In the dream I knew I was in a dream, and I planned that as soon as I woke up I would hurry and get a sheet of paper and pencil to write down the words of this song. Then I would draw a scale with the notes and lines of the melody so I wouldn't forget it. But when I awoke, regardless of how hard I tried, I couldn't recall one word of the song or one note of the melody. I tried to get back to sleep to pick up on the dream, but that didn't happen. All I could remember was the glorious sound of the man's voice. I truly believe that for a moment, in that dream, I may have actually heard the Lord singing! Though I do remember the sound of the voice, the memory of the words and melody of the song are being withheld from me for now. I did have a little taste of things to come, and a little spoonful from the Lord can go a long way! The sound of that voice and music in my dream still continues to feed my spirit.

We don't have to wait for a dream to hear the joyful sound of music coming from our Heavenly Father's House. The Bible says, speaking to God's people, ". . . ye are God's building" and "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Cor.3:9,16); so when a pleasant sound is coming from us, in a way, it is also coming from the House of God. That glorious, joyful music heard here on earth, coming from the House of God, is not just when we are singing spiritual songs, but when we are speaking words of kindness; when we are encouraging others in the love of God; when we are truly thankful; when we are praising God in our hearts regardless of outward circumstances; and when we are delighting ourselves in the love of God. Now that is the kind of music that not only blesses us but also is a blessing to our Heavenly Father. It is the music that makes one want to dance for joy.

Some people, including myself, find it very difficult to learn to dance; I mean the natural, down-to-earth kind of dancing. I just don't seem to be able to catch the rhythm. I become frightened whenever I am near a dance floor, but that is not the way it is when dancing with the Lord. It only takes a few basic steps to get in harmony with Him.

Step one is to really know how much He loves and delights in us. Because of the cross of Calvary, I am well convinced of God's great love.

The second step for us to learn in the dance is to be willing to drop the images. How can we move in harmony with God when we are carrying images, especially a big self image! Do we expect our Lord to put His arms around something like that?! It may look attractive to the natural eye but not so from God's viewpoint. Neither should we think for a moment that He would put His arms around our old dead man that was crucified with Christ on the cross (Rom.6:6). This music and dancing is for the new being we became, purchased by Jesus on the cross of Calvary. Being in harmony with God is living in the new creation which He, by His sacrifice on the cross, has perfected forever (Heb.10:14). When we try to improve something that is dead or try to live in an image, we are walking in the flesh and are out of step with the Lord. When we are living in the new creation, resting in the finished work of Christ, we are moving in harmony with Him.

The third step to learn to dance is a big one. It is called letting go of control.This seems to be the hardest step of all to learn, even for some who have served the Lord for forty or more years. It really is quite easy. All we need to do is be willing to let go; then the Lord will lead us in the dance.

There are countless people of all ages who sincerely want to have more harmony in their lives. They really want to learn this glorious way of life. They want the freedom from not having to control or be controlled, but still find it hard to get in step with the Bridegroom. Even though they want to let go of control, they are trying to control the way they are going to let go of control, rather than just being willing to let go and put themselves in the loving arms of God.

One time while I was at a wedding reception and the dancing was about to begin, the happy bridegroom said to his lovely bride, "Let's dance!" And she said, "YES!" You may be thinking . . . well . . . so what did you expect her to say? There is more. And that is what makes it so heartwarming. The bride was in a wheelchair! She couldn't do it on her own; all she did was say yes. Then the bridegroom swept her up in his arms and carried her through the dance!

It may seem like an impossibility to get rid of images and to let go of being a controller or of having to be controlled, so that we may dance (be in harmony with the Lord); but really, it is very easy. All we need to do is say "Yes" to the call of the Bridegroom, and He will sweep us up in His arms and carry us through life.