If the goal of my life is not to be like everyone else,
why am I discouraged when I don't wear the "right" clothes?
Why, if I try to live like the saints,
do I put myself down for not having a model body or face?
If I pray every day,
why do I always slip into sin?
We are human. God loves us that way. We can have the right ideas, but not be grounded in Him, and that is like trying to go en pointe in shoes without a shank*. We are broken, dead. Jesus never wears down or crumbles, and even though our emotions and feelings change, He won't.
Jesus never dies, never wears out. Sure, you might get a blister or a scab, but is that the fault of the Him? He will let you fall, but He will never drop you. If you put your feet into a pointe shoe, will you get mad at it because you can't pointe your feet? Well, maybe. (:D) What I am getting at is this: your foot is what is working, but without the shoe, it would all be impossible. We are willing to undergo pain so that we can achieve beauty and grace in dance. Isn't that the same with Christ? We will go through hard times and difficult moments, even with Christ, because by nature, we make mistakes and sin. Even with Jesus, we will always desire more. Why? Because the earth isn't perfect! Heaven is the perfect place for us - the place where we belong. There we will achieve the beauty and grace we desire.
Back to the pointe shoe analogy: a shoe with no scratches, rips, marks, or soft spots may look pretty on the outside, but it only shows that it's owner doesn't work hard in them. A shoe with tears, a pliable (but not too pliable) shank, black marks at the tips etc., shows that it's owner has taken the time to work in them and gotten used to the feel of trusting the shoe.
If we don't trust God, or are too scared to follow the impulse of His Will, our shoes will be clean and shiny on the outside. If we choose to give our fears to God and follow His Will, our shoes might become battered or a little shabby (we all make mistakes and we all sin, so how could they keep from looking worn?), but God loves us for following Him in our human way.
The more you dance en pointe, the easier it becomes. As we pray more, God comes into our life, and living in His Will becomes less painful.
Don't be afraid to break in* your shoes! We all sin, we all fall. Now, all you need to do is hold up your hands and God will pick you up. Don't stay on the floor, or your shoes will never break in! Some days you will hardly be able to point your feet, and some days you will feel as light as air. Just trust Him, let His strength carry you.
Are you ready? Get set? Dance the Divine Dance!
* For the non-dancers reading this post: a shank is the sole of a pointe shoe. The shank supports the foot and holds most of the dancer's weight en pointe.
* "Breaking in" pointe shoes is working in new shoes until the paper mache they are made of softens and adjust to the dancers foot. After they are "broken in" pointe shoes are easier to dance in and ready to perform in.
