Do You Know How to 2 Step?

I grew up in Georgia when “soul” music was the really hot thing.  I remember the talent and “soul” when the Temptations, Sam and Dave, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, etc. sang.  And, I loved to dance to that music.  Yep, I had rhythm and learned how to boog-a-loo and shing-a-ling with the best of them.  Of course, later in life while attending my daughters’ school dances, I thoroughly embarrassed them shaking my body to what I called dancing. They let me know, “Dad, shaking your caboose (aka “rear end”) rhythmically is not dancing!”  They thought that they were dumping water on a fire but just the opposite happened much to their chagrin!  Then in 1982, we moved to Texas where the 2-Step is dancing.  If you can’t 2-Step in TX, don’t waste the dance floor.  The interesting thing about two partners who are really good at the 2-Step is that the dance is elegant.  Experienced 2-Steppers glide gracefully across the dance floor on a single plain.  I have laughed respectfully a number of times observing cowboys who probably had broken a horse or kept cattle in order that day get on the dance floor.  These men became seemingly a different person as they leaned their head back, chin lifted and shoulders up gliding their lady gracefully cross the dance floor.  There are turns in the dance that are often dictated by the positioning of other dancer partners on the floor and the dimensions of the room.  This means that the Cowboy may be leading out dancing backwards.  As the circling is in transition, the coordinated 2 Step must continue.  The good two-stepper knows that timing is crucial. You don’t want to get behind, and you don’t want to get ahead. You want to step in the right time.  To me, the real dancer is the lady who is able to follow the lead of their man synchronously step by step.  I have no idea how my wife, Pam, follows me while being my dance partner, but she does…following my slight nudge or pull one-step-at-a-time.   She makes me look good…maybe “decent” is a better word 😊.

Believe it or not, Galatians 5:25 pictures a beautiful dance, the Holy Spirit leads out step-by-step, and we synchronously follow. ^“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”  Following the Holy Spirit, timing is crucial. You don’t want to get behind Him, you don’t want to get ahead of Him. You want to be just in his time.  However, we often get way out in front.  When we do, the dance is no longer full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control but becomes disjointed and frustrating to both partners. 

I challenge you to live life focused on today.  Matthew 6:35 exhorts us “to not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  If you break your walk down to focus on today and step-by-step follow Jesus in obedience and submission, your life dance becomes elegant and graceful in the eyes of God.  And, you look like and serve like Jesus to others who are around you. 

Learn to 2 Step with the Holy Spirit focused on one step-at-a-time.