Two Left Feet

Yes, Audrey does do a lot of the clothes shopping for me. She has a greater sense of style and appropriate color combinations and keeps up with the latest fashion trends--down to my bright and multi-colored socks.

Last week she brought home a new pair of shoes for me to try. I put one of them on to make sure that it fit. It did. Then I put it back in the box and into the closet.
 
On Saturday I took out the new pair to wear for the first time and was surprised to discover that I had two left-footed shoes instead of one of each.

To say that I possess two left feet means more than this innocent mistake, though. It is to confess to a certain awkwardness and clumsiness on the dance floor, to admit that I am unable to move gracefully to music. I am not a dancer, and I have no confidence in my ability at Terpsichore.

Part of it is that I was raised as a Baptist back in a time when dancing to rock-n-roll was frowned upon by the church. It was thought to arouse temptations of the flesh for teenagers--so we were taken on hayrides, under heavy blankets, instead. Then, I became a pastor, and gyrating to Bruno Mars and Uptown Funk is not quite helpful for the image I need to project.

But this is my problem--not yours.

Audrey enjoys dancing, though, so this has been a sore spot in our marriage from the very beginning. (I don't understand it, either. She was raised as a Baptist just as much as I was!) She often goes with her 90 year old father to small dances in his community. He is among the youngest of eligible bachelors in the room, and she is "the belle of the ball." I stay home and read a book.

A compromise: we cannot leave a wedding reception without one obligatory dance to something slow by Sinatra--but that's my limit.

I thought about all of this on Sunday when we attended Bible Fellowship with Charlie Black's class on Zoom. The lesson was from Proverbs 4:11-15, 25-27, and was all about walking a straight path in life and not stumbling as we do. To be careful where our feet go, and to keep up the pace (rhythm). In the discussion that followed the class decided that the way to do that is to stay closely anchored to God's Word. To hide it in our heart, since the heart is the seat of mind, will, and emotion, the well-spring from which everything else flows.

Also, to stay away from obvious evil-doers.

To keep our eyes in the right place--fastened on the LORD who is before us (Hebrews 12:1-2) and not distracted by all that is swirling around. To let Him lead.

Two left feet--spiritually--and I would be stumbling all over the place for sure!

This past Saturday morning I was preparing to do some pre-marital counseling at the house-- for an out-of-town couple who have become dear to us. While we were waiting for Justin and Erin to arrive, I heard Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton singing Islands in the Stream on the radio. Kenny's music is a part of the soundtrack of my life. In that moment I felt the sudden urge to go over and invite Audrey to dance.

And so she took my hand and we did... like no one was watching.

Sail away with me to another world.




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