For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord,
plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Dear Parents and Friends of St. Michael’s School,
As we continue through the Lenten Season, you have, no doubt, recognized that the liturgy is a bit different than that of Ordinary Time. The Alleluia that normally precedes the Gospel is omitted, the priests vest in purple garments to symbolize repentance, and the songs of praise and worship are unique. One particular song that is typically sung during Lent, and one of my favorite hymns, is
Lord of the Dance.
Written in 1963 by English songwriter Sydney Carter,
Lord of the Dance
adapts the melody of the American Shaker song,
Simple Gifts.
While the lyrics depict the story of the Passion of Christ – his life, death, and resurrection, the hymn is set to a peppy melody (many Lenten songs are a bit more melancholy; consider
Were You There When They Crucified My Lord,
for example), so the result is one of joy and hope. When I hear this song, I imagine Jesus dancing into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (instead of riding on a donkey), with a fife in hand and hundreds of followers kicking up their heels behind him. Jesus, of course, is smiling and laughing as He is dancing, even though He knows what lies ahead.
If only we could all approach our life’s journey with the same confidence in the outcome: Jesus has great plans for us; we just need try not to let the momentary struggles wear us down. On Saturday, my husband, mom, and I drove to Anaheim for my grandson’s fifth birthday party. When we left the house at noon, MapQuest recommended taking I-15 instead of I-5, so we headed out, anticipating about an 80-minute drive. Unfortunately, we forgot that our route would take us past Lake Elsinore, and since the Super Bloom was at its height, thousands of other cars were on the road as well. We ended up crawling up the 15 and our travel time doubled, BUT rather than give in to frustration about our delay, I took in all of the glory of the beautiful green and BRIGHT ORANGE hillsides (see picture above). Sometimes it really is important to “stop and smell the roses,” or in this case, the poppies.
It’s not always easy to be joyful during our setbacks, but if we can try to think of Jesus laughing and DANCING, it might encourage us to do the same.
