Just Dance, Dance, Dance

Pictured above is one of the many impromptu dance parties that my friends and I have had over the years. For as long as I can remember, dancing has always been one of my favourite things. Not because I am particularly good at it, but because it is one of the few simple joys in life that I just have fun doing. Because of this, I have also always loved dances: getting dressed up, taking pictures, and dancing the night away with my friends. I have scars on my ankles from dancing so passionately.

But, it has occurred to me, that not everyone may feel that way. In fact, the prospect of going to a dance may be a little daunting for them. So, with the encroaching homecoming weekend that I know many high schoolers are getting ready for, I felt that it was only fitting that I offer the advice I would like to be told if I were back in high school getting ready for homecoming weekend:

1) Choose your relationships wisely, because who you surround yourself with matters!

Throughout my history of dances, I have been lucky enough to experience a variety of groups, dates, and settings, and because of this, I have seen that who you are spending the night with matters. It can change more than just where you eat or take pictures, and can affect relationships. So, when choosing who you want to spend time with, through high school dances and this dance of life, ask yourself which relationship is going to glorify God the most!

One of my favourite illustrations is: if you want to see what your future looks like, show me your five best friends, because I am a person who is very easily influenced by my environment. This is something I've had to learn about myself as I've gotten older, and it has made it abundantly clear that who I am spending my time with does actually matter!

I'm not the only one saying this either, in Proverbs 13:20 the Bible tells us that "whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm".

Ask yourself, are the people you're surrounding yourself with going to make you wiser, or are they going to turn you into a fool?

2) Who are you reflecting: society or someone greater?

When we get dressed up, it's really easy to pretend we are someone else. We may go as far as to even act or carry ourselves differently. This is why we have to ask ourselves, who are we glorifying in this situation: ourselves and our physical beauty or God, the creator of our beautiful bodies?

2 Corinthians 4:6 tells us that "God, who said "Light shall shine out of darkness", is the one who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

As believers we are ambassadors for Christ every time we walk out our door, and these unique and magical evenings are still opportunities to shine the light and love of Christ by being an example!

3) Life goes on.

This piece of advice in particular is one I stand by, because life really does go on. When you're young, it's hard to see outside of your problems, in the massive things that are right now in front of your face, but please hear me when I say that this too shall pass! We know that things of this earth are temporary, and we are living for something far greater than one night of glitz and glam. That being said: seize the opportunity. Have fun. Enjoy this brief moment of pure teenage bliss while you can, because there's only a few chances like them. And, on the flip side of this, don't allow one night of fun, to lead to a fatal choice that you can't take back. Whether that's something said, done, or felt, the music does eventually end, and you will be left with a face full of make up to take off, don't add in a mess to clean up.

When the drama seems too crazy, or like you're in over your head, know that there are people you can turn to help you up, and that life is bigger than the homecoming dance. Life, is a beautiful collection of the memories made along the way.

John 11:25-26 "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."

We are living for the eternal reward of a future in paradise with Christ, and once we fully understand that, all the little dramas of this world seem infinitely smaller.

One of my favourite songs right now is called Awestruck Revival, and in it, the singer says the line "I caught a glimpse from my wide eyes, eternity by the shoreside, I've been thinking from the 'finite when the finer things in life are with you", and I think this is very true to the way we view the world: we get caught up in the finite things of the world, when we aren't promised forever, we are promised right now wherever the Lord has you for this wonderful moment in time.

Ecclesiates 3:12-13 says, "There is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat, and drink, and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God."

God isn't boring! He doesn't want to suck all the joy from your life, He wants us to celebrate and enjoy the things He has blessed us with, and that includes dancing the night away with our friends!

However, hear me when I say this: dancing makes me happy, but it can't give me joy.

Joy is gladness not based on circumstances. It is something internal and eternal that we aren't going to find on this earth. Joy comes only from the Lord!

I once wrote that it is the little joys we find in life, that lead to our passions, and in turn our purpose, and this is still true! But doesn't it become so much more beautiful when we realize that this joy we are seeking is Jesus? When we realise that the answer to finding joy in life is an eternally abundant resource and love from someone who died to save us for our sins, we find something worth dancing for!

Not just something, but someone...

If you are going to a dance this weekend, please be safe and HAVE FUN! You will have as much fun as you decide you are going to have! And, let me be the first to tell you: you are beautiful!

Sparkly dress or not, inside and out!

Here's to dancing the night away...

Emma

"Be fearless in pursuit of what sets your soul on fire."