With apologies to my gentlemen readers, I’m guessing that most of you ladies learned ballroom dancing at one time or another. Now I haven’t been dancing lately, but I have a clear memory of “dancing backwards.”

I’m not talking about the choreographed performances you may see on “Dancing with the Stars.” I’m talking about the dancing that happens when a couple walks onto the floor, the music begins to play, and for the ladies that game of follow-the-leader begins. Sometimes it’s graceful, sometimes not so much.

Dancing backwards, the woman must follow her partner’s lead. She’s moving in a direction she can’t see. Even if she’s learned every step in the books, she doesn’t know what’s coming next until her partner leads her. There’s always that temptation to peak over her shoulder to see where she’s going.

The best dancing happens, not when he man executes fancy steps, but when his partner focuses on following whatever move he makes next. The reason is pretty simple, it’s times like that when the couple is really connected. It’s not a solo activity. The man leads, his partner follows. That’s how ballroom dancing works.

In Ephesians 5:22-23 Paul speaks about Christ leading His church. The steps are far more elaborate. We can never know them all, but the technique of closely following is very similar. For “Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.” As we trust his leading, he will led us on.

Am I more focused on the exact steps I think my life should follow, or am I sensitive to the Lord’s leading? Let’s relearn to “follow” our leader. He leads with love. He leads you and me with his unbelievably unconditional love.

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.”
— “Lord of the Dance”

Judy