Lent is a time for dancing
Wait a minute. Isn’t this one of the most solemn seasons in the Church Year?! How could there be time for dancing in the midst of prayer, fasting and additional time in God’s Word? Psalm 30:8-12 answers how there is time for dancing just as there is time for the more solemn things. It’s not that we’re going to seek to plan an extravagant dance party on this Lenten Journey. The transformed mindset (changed by God’s work alone) provides us the wisdom and clarity to step back to look at the whole picture.
Lent really is a microcasm of the entire Church Year and calendar year! When opportunities are taken to be in God’s Word, to remember, recite and share God’s Word in our homes, our congregation and our neighborhoods we know that there is a time for everything under the sun. There is a time for the full range of emotions from sorrow to rejoicing.
As we’ll read in Psalm 30:8-12 below, the words of the Psalmist are an exercise in remembering God’s Word., “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it tell of Your faithfulness?” This is not some way to manipulate God into acting for our benefit but is actually a daily practice of rembering God’s Word ourselves. This is not about reminding a forgetful God but rather to recognize that as He is and always has been the Saving God…this is all about being reminded ourselves that God is and always will be our Saving God. That is epic! It really is Good News that God’s Promise of forgiveness and hope that will never die really is Finished and Accomplished through Christ’s death on the Cross. You know what certain “A” word I’d love to put here as we remember what God never forgets…but I’ll wait until Easter morning. But for now, I’ll dance in His song of hope eternal.
May we continue to give thanks for God’s Promise fulfilled, for this time to remember God’s Word and all the ways He comforts us and assures us that Lent is a time for dancing because of His Word, the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, Amen!
