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Good morning.Ìý My holiday reading this year was Zadie Smith’s Swing Time – a novel in part, exploring strain and celebration in relationships. It’s also a novel about dance.Ìý Dance is perhaps not an obvious subject in this first week of Advent, but as I continue my personal reflection in this season, the steps of re-examination of myself and the steps that can move us closer to Christ seem very much like a metaphorical dance to me.Ìý There’s a sequence I need to learn, there are aspects of unlearning, and then finally re-learning, until instinctively, I hold nothing but Christ.
The concept of dancing our way through Advent will mean lots of rehearsing. It will mean intentional movement away from those things that separate us from one another and towards everything that contributes to unity.
The bible has things to say about dance. My favourite Hebrew word is ‘pazaz’ -Ìý onomatopoeic and translated as ‘leaping or springing’.
And it seems to me that the success of a good and well-rehearsed Advent preparation will be full of pazaz. It will enable us to stand out in innovative ways that fit with who we are, but also as unique, light bearers in a world where we find far too many pockets of darkness.Ìý Who can we inspire today through the sequences that we experience on this Advent journeyÌý - a journey of learning to move with God.
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Lord God, help us to look deeply into our souls for the signs of your spirit at work within us – signs that lead us in a holy dance. Help us to be open to all that is you in every person we meet today.ÌýÌý Amen