Sermon On One More Dance

Robert Jordan, an American author once remarked: “One more dance along the razor's edge finished. Almost dead yesterday, maybe dead tomorrow, but alive, gloriously alive, today.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 reminds us: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”

Dancing is defined as the activity of moving one's body rhythmically, usually to music. It is a fundamental form of human expression, often beginning with the feet, that can convey emotion, tell a story, or be performed for social interaction, ceremony, or exercise. Dancing is often viewed as a metaphor for life because it represents the rhythms, flow, and unpredictable nature of existence. It can be a way to express personal feelings, connect with others, and live fully in the present moment, much like life itself is a continuous process of becoming and experience.

"One more dance" suggests longing for another, intimate moment with someone, whether it's romantic, due to the fear of losing them forever, or a spiritual yearning for a future reunion. The phrase can evoke both beautiful sadness and hopeful anticipation, depending on the context. "One more dance" can relate to God through themes of worship, a desire for continued spiritual connection, and as a symbol of hope for redemption. For example, it can represent a yearning to continue a dance that was interrupted by hardship, a desire for perpetual worship, or the ultimate goal of a spiritual "great dance" of life and salvation.

A dance of life may relate to a spiritual and philosophical concept representing the dynamic and cyclical nature of life's stages and experiences. Philosophically, it symbolizes accepting life's changes, finding rhythm and balance, and allowing for both connection and detachment. A "dance of life" story in the Bible focuses on King David's ecstatic dance before the Ark of the Covenant in 2 Samuel 6:14-16. He danced with all his might, wearing a simple linen garment, to show his overwhelming joy at God's presence in Jerusalem, a celebration that was met with contempt by his wife Michal but was an expression of pure worship for David.

This story is sometimes interpreted as a metaphor for the spontaneous and uninhibited worship that honors God, the ups and downs of life, and finding balance with God as a partner. The passage reminds us: “And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.”

While it is a nuanced topic in religious texts, in Christianity, hatred toward other people is considered a grave sin and is despised by God. The New Testament teaches that God is love and that loving one another is a primary commandment. Hatred of people is fundamentally opposed to this core tenet. The Bible does, however, distinguish between hating a person and hating evil. God hates sin and wickedness because they are against his nature of perfect righteousness. While "A dance of life" isn't a standard term for hatred, it can metaphorically refer to it as an intense, often obsessive, and consuming emotional interaction. Some perspectives describe hatred as a dynamic process where one "dances" with a powerful emotion, driven by a desire for engagement, even though it can lead to destructive cycles.

It can represent the back-and-forth struggle between an individual and their own negative emotions or the external targets of that hatred. Luke 6:27-36 teaches the radical command to love our enemies by doing good, blessing, praying for, and forgiving those who hate, curse, or mistreat us, as exemplified by the principle of doing to others what you would have them do to you. The passage is a core part of Jesus' teaching on how his followers should behave, contrasting this selfless, "amazing love" with the worldly principle of "if you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours". The passage reminds us: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.