Dance

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope & trust this post finds you having a great day as a beautiful new day begins to dawn! The hope, opportunity & promise of this new day is so thick you can almost feel it! :)

Well, today is a dancin' kinda day! While I have absolutely no rhythm - just ask my Beautiful Bride, she will tell ya! - I fully intend to dance through this day and then the next and the next and the next... Please, let me explain.

Wednesday morning I got a powerful reminder! As I was scrolling through Facebook I saw a video and a headline that said something like, "Watch what happens when a lady with cancer comes up to Garth Brooks at a concert." You can watch another version of what happens here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veCRhOCwNEs. If the link does not work just Google "Garth Brooks Sings to Lady with Cancer" and it will pop up.

As Garth is singing "The Dance," the beautiful woman walks towards the stage holding a sign that says, 

"Chemo This Morning

Garth Tonight

Enjoying The Dance"

Now, I am not going to talk about what an amazing man Garth is, how compassionate his actions are or what a great message he delivers at the end...you can see all this when you watch the video! :) No, what I want to focus on is the powerful example this incredibly strong, brave woman set for us all. I think to fully understand it is helpful to know the lyrics to "The Dance." Here you go:

"Looking back on the memory of 

The dance we shared beneath the stars above 

For a moment all the world was right 

How could I have known you'd ever say goodbye 

And now I'm glad I didn't know 

The way it all would end the way it all would go 

Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain 

But I'd have to miss the dance 

Holding you I held everything 

For a moment wasn't I the king 

But if I'd only known how the king would fall 

Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all 

And now I'm glad I didn't know 

The way it all would end the way it all would go 

Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain 

But I'd of had to miss the dance 

Yes my life is better left to chance 

I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance"

When you see a person who is currently battling a life threatening disease holding a sign that declares she is going to enjoy this dance, this life, despite the current circumstance, challenge or struggle, well, it is an incredibly powerful example! And a choice...a choice to enjoy, to dance, in this life or to die while still living it! I pray for the strength & courage to enjoy the dance every. single. day!

And now, since I am on this whole musical theme, with dancing and all, I want to share the lyrics to "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack.

"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat but always keep the hunger

May you never take a single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin'

Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin'

Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter

When you come close to sellin' out reconsider

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance"

Great wisdom and insight! Read the words and let them speak deeply to your soul. I truly hope you & I dance Friends! :)

And so, I have one more song I gotta share with you! :) I want to preface it with a something that our Pastor said at church last Sunday. He said, "Beliefs drive action." Think about that for a moment. What we believe determines what we do. With that nifty little statement, here are the lyrics to "Most People Are Good" by Luke Bryan.

I believe kids oughta stay kids as long as they can

Turn off the screen, go climb a tree, get dirt on their hands

I believe we gotta forgive and make amends

'Cause nobody gets a second chance to make new old friends

I believe in working hard for what you've got

Even if it don't add up to a hell of a lot

I believe most people are good

And most mama's oughta qualify for sainthood

I believe most Friday nights look better under neon or stadium lights

I believe you love who you love

Ain't nothing you should ever be ashamed of

I believe this world ain't half as bad as it looks

I believe most people are good

I believe them streets of gold are worth the work

But I still wanna go even if they were paved in dirt

I believe that youth is spent well on the young

'Cause wisdom in your teens would be a lot less fun

I believe if you just go by the nightly news

Your faith in all mankind would be the first thing you lose

I believe most people are good

And most mama's oughta qualify for sainthood

I believe most Friday nights look better under neon or stadium lights

I believe you love who you love

Ain't nothing you should ever be ashamed of

I believe this world ain't half as bad as it looks

I believe most people are good

I believe that days go slow and years go fast

And every breath's a gift, the first one to the last

I believe most people are good

And most mama's oughta qualify for sainthood

I believe most Friday nights look better under neon or stadium lights

I believe you love who you love

Ain't nothing you should ever be ashamed of

I believe this world ain't half as bad as it looks

I believe most people are good

I believe most people are good

I believe most people are good"

Yeah, I have no idea what has happened to me this morning! :) It's a singin', toe tappin' kinda day! And my poor family, they are gonna hear me singing these songs all day!

On a serious note, 3 things to wrap this all up:

1. You might be able to miss the pain however you will have to miss the dance.

2. We have a choice, every day, to sit out life or dance...I hope we dance.

3. I believe most people are good.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families.

Kev