Swing Dancing and the Joy of Following Christ

My sophomore year, I ended up in a college that didn’t have one single group on campus for believers. There was a guy in my Spanish class who had light in his eyes, so I asked him straight up, “Are you a Christian?” He was like yes, but how did you know? We were literally just standing in line to walk into class the first day, so it wasn’t like I had any time to observe his actions or anything. I told him I saw light in his eyes, and I remembered a Scripture that says, “The eyes of those who look to the Lord will be radiant.” What a way to make a new friend!

So we talked some more about how the campus needed a Christian group and we started one right away. We had so much fun in that group. We hosted events on campus like the Turkey Bowl (where you bowl a turkey into liters of soda pop down the campus hallway.) I don’t know who or how we came up with that stuff, but it was always fun and quirky and quickly grew community on a pretty stick-to-yourself campus.

Some of the girls’ parents were big swing dancers. (I will forever be grateful for this family!) They taught us all how to swing dance, and then, that was it! We just never looked back. We ended up dancing all the time together. It was drama-free and wholesome and so much fun!

We rotated partners all the time, and I quickly learned that the personality of the leader drastically effected the way the led on the dance floor. Some guys had compact, exacting movements. Some guys had big, free loosey-goosey movements. Some were more suave with their timing to the music. It was fun because we were united in the love of Christ even though there were huge personality differences in that group!

When a girl begins learning dance, her sense of control has to die. Quickly. Or it just becomes a huge mess on the floor. You can only have one leader and one follower. We live in a culture that teaches women that there’s something less-than about following. But you can’t convince me of that because I love dancing.

Have you ever watched a couple with a strong lead and strong follow on the dance floor? Just last night, I went out to the local Dance Under the Stars where they taught us Cuban Salsa. I fumbled a bit, jumping in for only the last 10 minutes of the lesson. But wow! I got to watch a couple who was so smooth and beautiful on the dance floor together. It’s mesmerizing.

I’ve also seen dance off’s where the couples aren’t allowed to even touch. They have to keep connection even when they aren’t physically connecting, no cues from the touch of hands and pauses and turns. Their improv quick-stepping West Coast Swing without even touching ever… mind-blowing to watch!

When women follow, they still get to use their own brain. They still get to suggest alternatives in the plan or throw in their own flair. They even get to decide if they don’t want to follow a step or not. Or sometimes they do something else thinking that’s where they were being led, when the leader was trying to guide her elsewhere! Dancing is all about learning to communicate without words and offering grace and laughter if those communication lines get mixed up. In the big picture, when a woman follows and the man leads, its pure bliss and harmony. It’s joy! It’s fun! Dancing is like heaven leading earth.

If men are tempted to passivity and women are tempted to control, dancing will nip all that right in the bud.

But this is not really about men and women right now. Because as I learned to follow and as I learned to appreciate each guys’ different way of leading, I also learned about freedom in Christ. I learned that He doesn’t lead by jerking or pushing us around. Jesus is a strong and gentle lead. He can lead us even without physically taking our hand to show us the path. He can lead us even without audibly telling us what move to make next. Only really strong leaders can do that. Only practiced attentive followers can do that too.

So as I practiced my ability to follow, I also began to see how prayer and relationship with God works best. The Lord still lets us offer our own flair and alternative ideas. But when we butt heads with God about every (plot) twist and every turn (in the story), it just gets pretty mess pretty quick. But when we trust and follow, our life in Christ becomes one of dependence, surrender, joy, and loads of laughter.

I’ve been doing a lot of spins with the Lord lately. Sometimes the accelerated pace feels a little dizzying. Wondering where he will flip or dip or send me next. But the thing is… even when He sends me off, I still remain connected to my Dance Partner. Even when I can’t feel His touch or hear His voice, I remain in constant connection and communication. That’s prayer.

Happy sigh. If anyone asks me what it’s like to follow Jesus, this is how I’d describe it. That there’s nothing like dancing with a partner who knows you well and knows how to communicate without a single word. There’s nothing like spinning on a dance floor, total surrender, and the biggest smile on your face. To me, that’s a picture of this abundant, joyful life we get to live in Christ.