From the heart of Jean Rhodes with influences by other unknown author(s)—
When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw “G: I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i”. “God, “u” and “i” dance.” God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.
And I Hope You Dance!!!!!!!!
[Be sure to see the original author’s notes in the comments below. It’s an interesting story of powerful emotional energy finding its Freedom to affect the world.]
Rick adds: Back when this attracted my eye in 2005, the model I had for dance — whether with a partner or with God — was the Lead/Follow. My life had changed from sickness and disease in the late 80’s to greater and more thriving expression of Who I Am by intentionally tuning into Source, and letting God’s gentle nudges and suggestions encourage me to move and feel and celebrate Life. I sought to let God lead, and I would follow. (When we’re lost, this approach adds structure and solidness and guidance back to balance. It’s why it is so much a part of spiritual literature through the ages.)
Now, my model for dance (and for engaging with God Consciousness) is one of Co-Creation, where the essence of Who I Am Right NOW meets the essence of Who Your Are and Who WE Are… right NOW… and we express something unique and rich with emotional energy. God smiles and laughs and joins in. 😉
It is my sense that at the leading edge of co-creation there is no pre-planned choreography, no lead, no follow. I am inspired to nudge and suggest, you are inspired to respond with your own impulses, nudges, and invitations. And in THIS kind of dance we become ACTIVATED and ENGAGED and FOCUSED in our Freedom and Authentic Self-Expression. It’s so incredibly yummy…
If that is how you dream of dancing in life, I’d love to explore energy movement and emotional engagement with you! Check out our “Dance Circle” and see if it feels right for you to join us for a time… and for some extraordinary connections.
How do you dance in life now? How would you like to? Let me know in the comments!
Originally posted August 23, 2005
This story goes well with the wellknown quote:
LIFE ISN’T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS IT’S LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN Dancing can be very enjoyable if both involved know who is the leader.
LIFE ISN’T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS IT’S LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN
Dancing can be very enjoyable if both involved know who is the leader.
You got it exactly right Ron! Well said!
I love this story, it reminds me of complete surrender and obedience. No false step!! Some of my favourite Scripture passages is in the New Testament : John 14-15-16 -17. This is dancing in tune.
Sorry, this analogy doesn’t work. I have no sense of rhythm and dancing is not fun, it’s embarassing.
Well, rhythm can be taught and learned. I’ve seen that in Zumba class. And tapping can help for the embarrassment (and maybe the trauma from childhood of being laughed at or ridiculed). But only if you WANT to dance.
Well, two left feet or not, It really doesn’t matter. You see, when you allow GOD to lead, all you have to do is follow. You’ll do a perfect dance together then. Just let Him lead. That is what ‘Guidance” is all about – allowing God to lead.
Guidance: God U and I Dance
The
version included below is the one I remember writing …It was written
when I was doing a self study on dance worship… there are several on the
Internet that have a pray at the end…that I do not remember. It was
written as an email to my sister sometime between 1999 and the fall of
2003, at first I thought it was from the middle to the late 1990’s.
After giving it some thought I realized it had to be between January 27th
1999 (When my husband died), and the fall of 2003 when I sold my home
on Lake Coeur d’ Alene. I remember writing it at my desk on the lake,
and it was after my husband had died. In 2003 one of my cousins,
Earlene, sent me a forward she received and wanted to share. When I
started reading it, it was like déjavu. Yesterday May 15, 2007, I came
across the “Guidance…God…U…and…I …dance”, so I did a search out of
curiosity. I could
not believe what I was finding…how far this had spread. I called my
sister and ask her if she had forward the email on to anyone…she did not
remember doing so. She said she did share it with her pastor…but as a
print out copy, not an email. She is going to search her files for the
original. I hope she can find it, because I don’t remember the exact
date, or wording. I don’t remember sending it to anyone but my sister.
I have been trying to trace down from the different websites, blogs,
etc. How they first received this. I have two reasons for my inquiry… I
know God shares the same insights with many in His body… One, is this
what happen, or two, is this all from my original email? It has been
humbling, and sad to me. Humbling to extent of how far this has
traveled, and how many it has blessed. Sad, because God gave me
something precious and I didn’t recognize its worth to others. My
sister said I should have had it
copy written…I said, “no”…it is not mine, but God’s, He just blessed me
with it. She whole heartily agreed. I have a problem with
people commercializing things given to them from God. If there is any
credit due to an author of this it has to go to Him. I humbly pray that
from this day forward, I will do more with the treasures my Father
shares with me. Blessing, Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem …His servant,
Jean Rhodes
The version that is the closest to what I remember…
“When
I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing “dance” at the end of
the word. I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like
dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The
movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite
uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the
other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle
cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one
direction or another. It’s as if two become one body, moving
beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness
from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes
drew back to the word Guidance.
When
I saw “G: I thought of God, followed by “u” and “I” dance.” God, you
and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I
would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let
God lead.”
When
I was thinking about the part when one leads and another follows in the
dance, I remembered when I went to my first teenage dance…I didn’t know
how to dance, and my partner was trying to lead, but I was also. It
was a disaster … I stepped on his toes, he stepped on mine, and neither
of us were keeping step with the music. It has always fascinated me,
after I learn to dance…how you can have two people moving together with
such unity, when the one doesn’t know what the leader is going to do
next. You come into a oneness that you sense the others movements in
the nanosecond before it happens. We are so awesomely made.Jean Rhodes
Jean,
Your story is amazing! We never know how God can use the lessons He teaches us to also teach others. Every website I’ve found lists the author as unknown, but as you said God was truly the author. May He receive all the glory!
After having read (somewhere) your explanation of the acronym GUIDANCE, I have used it over the years telling people about dancing with God, while giving a dancing workshop. People get to experience what living/dancing with God means and how it feels. Always, but always, people are warmly filled knowing that God wants to lead us in a dance with Him. So thank you for following God and (somehow) having put this acronym out into the world! Blessings from The Netherlands.
Hi Jean,
I am so glad that I found your story of having written this poem. I am doing a compilation of interesting E-Mails that I have received over the years, and came across your poem ‘Guidance’, which someone had e-mailed to me 11/2/2002. I hope that this helps you get a little closer to pinpointing the date you would have written it. It is a simply wonderful poem. May God continue to bless you.
Charma.
Dear Jean, how wonderful to hear how the Lord ministered the dance to you. I received the story in an email years ago. And now in 2021 was searching for it to share with someone and found the one who was inspired.
It had left me with such a vivid illustration of The Dance as i loved dancing from a child but had two left feet and No rhythm. But one day as an adult I was invited to a dance by a very experienced dancer i felt as though i was floating on a cloud and my feet hardly touched the floor. I cannot put into words the exhilaration as i was LED along the Dance floor.
Many years later when I heard the voice of the Lord calling me to Him i again learnt how to allow myself to be led in the Dance of Life.
When my sister was trying to commit suicide and undergoing heavy electric shock treatment for her depression I felt helpless not knowing HOW to help her.
Once again l experienced the Holy Spirit leading me in the dance. Leading me when to move forward with her, when to be still, when to move to the left or when to move to the right…
Your words of GUIDANCE again was the perfect example of God U and I dance.
I have shared this with so many in the past and been blessed by the inspiration the Lord gave you.
Thank you for putting into print the explanation of how the Lord inspired you.
Now it is no longer just words of encouragement for others but a true experience.