Dancing In The Rain

 When my friend told me he did not have much time to live, I could not believe it . . . did not want to believe it . . . and hoped he did not believe it.  We were young and healthy.  It seemed like we had so much time ahead.  But, somehow he knew.
So.
He asked some of us to dance in the rain.  We did.  At the time, it seemed random; however, looking back I see that it was part of his legacy.  It was as if it released us to be free in the moment and grateful to be alive.

A few months later, he was hit on an Oregon highway by a drunk driver.  He was injured, more than we knew at the time. We sat and talked on a rainy afternoon as he lay in his hospital bed.  His words were memorable;  he said to consider the day as a gift of life to be experienced . . . celebrated . . . and remembered.  And, he reminded me to take time to dance in the rain.  He took his last breath on earth a few days later.

The thing is . . . I want to do more dancing in the rain and less complaining about the rain.  

It makes the words of Moses more poignant in Deuteronomy.  He faced the end of his life, wanting the people he led to get what life was about and how to live in the best way:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them,  for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31: 6, TNIV). 

Moses explained what we are to be and not to be: 
1. Be strong.
2. Be courageous.
3. Do not be afraid.
4. Do not be terrified.
And then Moses qualified why we can live in this way:
1. God is personal ( "Your God" or Yahweh)
2. Your God will go with you.
3. Your God will never leave you.
4. Your God will never forsake you.

In other words, our decision to be strong, courageous, and to not be afraid or terrified is based on the unrelenting presence of God rather than on circumstances of the day.  When you get down to it, Moses was saying to live to the fullest by trusting God.  It is God who gives reason to experience, celebrate, and remember the gift of the day.
And.
Trusting God gives reason to dance in the rain.

Trust God today rather than the circumstances.  Determine to be strong and courageous and intentionally experience, celebrate, and remember the gift of the day. Invite others to dance in the rain.

Learning to Kickstart the day by dancing in the rain,

Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)