IN THE STILLNESS

February 28, 2021

One of my favorite hymns is “Lord of the Dance” by Donovan; yet surprisingly many take offense. After all, how can you talk about dancing and crucifixion in the same breath? How? Because dance implies life. In this instance life in the midst of death. Christ is the Lord of life – the Lord of the Dance – the One Who teaches us to claim the beat of life even in the face of death. See what joy you find in these lyrics:

I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
I came down from heaven and I danced on earth,
At Bethlehem I had my birth.

“Dance then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance,” said He,
“And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance,” said He.

I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
They would not dance, they wouldn’t follow me.
So I danced for the fishermen, for James and John. They came with me and the dance went on.

“Dance then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance,” said He,
“And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance,” said He.

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame,
The Holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung Me high,
They left Me there on a cross to die.

“Dance then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance,” said He,
“And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance,” said He.

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black,
It’s hard to dance with the devil on Your back.
They buried My body, they thought I’d gone,
But I am the dance, and I still go on.

“Dance then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance,” said He,
“And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance,” said He.

They cut me down, but I lept up high.
“I am the life that’ll never, never die
And I’ll live in you if you’ll live in Me.
I am the Lord of the dance,” said He.

“Dance then, whever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance,” said He,
“And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance,” said He.