Being a PK (preacher’s kid) was difficult at times. One of the difficult times was, we just couldn’t do some of the things other kids were doing. There were school activities we wanted to attend, like the school dance. It wasn’t much… it wasn’t the end of the world, but as kids, we thought it was. We just couldn’t understand why? We didn’t like
being ‘different’.
Truth be told, preacher’s kids, and families
are put on a pedestal. They are expected to be better than the other kids,
since they are an extension of the Minister, and thus the church. This means
being open for all kinds of criticism from members. It wasn’t all bad of course,
but WE had to be especially careful, because we didn’t want dad to lose his job
on account of us… so dancing was out. We missed the school socials, the proms,
and when we started to date, we didn’t know how to dance.
Now, some 50 years later, thanks to my wife’s encouragement, we’ve started to dance. At first it was ‘Swing’ dance, which is nice, but we had to do some travelling each week for lessons. Then we happened to find ‘Round Dancing’ here in Lake City! I never thought I would ‘get it’, but since January, we have both been learning, and having fun. Sure I have a long way to go, but ‘better late than never’.
Whoever said, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, just gave up too soon. I’m here to tell you…. this ‘old dog’ can and is! Actually everyone can learn, if you want to bad enough. I’m just happy to have a wife who encouraged me to lay aside the excuses, (and television) and try. Besides, it means being together, making friends, having some good fun.
Try it! David did! No he wasn’t doing
the Round Dance… he was just overjoyed at bringing the Ark of the Lord back. “So
David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Jehovah with shouting,
and with the sound of the trumpet. And it was so, as the ark of Jehovah came
into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the
window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Jehovah; and she despised
him in her heart” (2 Samuel 6:15-16). (Maybe Michal “despised him in her heart”
because he had ‘two left feet’ like me.)
Sure some dances are not good because
they are not intended just for fun. Think about it, there’s a reason why they
call it dirty dancing. However, being together and just enjoying good clean
fun… well, nothing wrong with that.
“Can I have this dance, for the rest
of my life…?” I’m so proud, my wife said, “Yes!”