A few weeks ago at church, a friend of mine told a story, a resurrection story as we like to call it at All Souls. These are stories of light and hope shinning into the darkness in our lives and our world. Her story was about finding joyous moments in the mist of hard and stormy seasons. In the middle of a foreign country, in a broken friendship, she and her friend, who was in a deep depression and had tried to commit suicide months earlier, danced in the rain. I decided that I wanted to dance in the rain at least once in my life, literally. As an aside, I’m remembering another friend of mine who loved to run in the rain and I would always stand at the door and look at her like she was crazy. Why would anyone want to purposely get wet with all of their clothes on. Not to mention mess up their hair. But dancing in the rain is symbolic of giving yourself to a situation with abandon, grasping the moment and being fully present in it. There are two approaches you can take when a storm comes you way, you can run inside to weather it and wait, or you can make the best of it by running or dancing in the rain, finding joy and laughter, making a memory of the situation. So here’s to dancing in the rain. I don’t want stand at the door and watch life happen to others around me nor do I want to go in to wait out the storm. I want to throw caution to the wind and dance in to the beat of life with abandon. Who wants to live life on the brink of actually experiencing it. I am reminded of a poem I wrote a few months ago about not being fully present in our lives. Don’t live on the brink, and if you find yourself there, just jump across, in or over to fully emerse yourself in it.

On the Brink

 
Maybe I’ve looked at you but have never seen you
Heard you but have never listened
Associated with you but never made you a friend

Maybe I’ve touched you but never felt your skin
Hugged you but never embraced you
Breathed your scent but never took your breath away

Maybe I read but never comprehend
I often remember things but never recall the who what and when
Compete but haven’t entered a real contest to contend

Maybe I always take gulps of life never savoring the flavor with sips
Like kissing you but never tasting your lips

Maybe I always sleep but never rest
Proclaim but never profess
Pray to God but never confess

Maybe I’ve been living but have never felt alive
I keep moving nowhere with every stride
Heart is beating but my soul has died

Maybe I fly but never sour
I’m generous but never give to the poor
Maybe that why I spend my life
Never fulfilled and always yearning for more