Sanctity Pervades!

"Sanctity can pervade all of our human endeavors" -Rev. Peter V. Armenio.

Woah.  Think about that for a minute.

It is possible for sanctity (aka: holiness) to be present in all of our endeavors.  All of them.

Wait. you think.  All of my endeavors?  Meaning all of my life?  All the different parts............even dance?

Yup, dance.  Including (but not only) dance.  Often in such a detailed and focused activity, it's weird to think of holiness being really present.  Oh yes, we can practice to Christian music (which is awesome, by the way!) and try to snatch a prayer in between combos (which is hard to do...), but is there any way that holiness can completely take over our dancing?

Think about that.  Ask God how He can be present in your dancing.  Surrender your dancing to Him, dance for Him.

Maybe it will be hard to give Jesus this part of us.  This part of our life that we are so in control of, that we have worked so hard on, that we have invested so much in and put so much joy and work and tears into.

Is He worth it to you?  Will you let holiness pervade your endeavors?

Jesus, come and take over my dancing.  This is hard, Lord.  Give me the strength to dance for You alone!  Let me praise your name with dance.  From my heart to Yours, Lord!  Amen!

For Him Alone

Psalm 149:3 Says......

Oh, come on.  If you've seen it once on this blog you've seen it a thousand times!

Do you remember?

Ok, I'll let you cheat.  Below are the words in the verse scrambled up:

"dancing Let praise with His them name "

Do you have it now?  Here it is:

"Let them praise His name with dancing."

The only reason that I lead all of you readers through that crazy experiment is this:  As a dancer I want to be the best at what I do.  I realize that (without a miracle) this isn't going to happen.  Maybe I could get so good that I get to the top of my class and then to the top of my dance school.  Maybe I could get so good that I begin to get all of the main parts in the ballets.  But I will never be the best at dancing.  

To many, many dancers out there (including me!) this hurts to know.  It really hurts.  But this blog isn't jump-with-pain.com, is it? No.  And Psalm 149:3, along with Jeremiah 29:11 and many more verses (not to mention the strength given to us through the Mass and the sacraments!) give me a reason to dance.

Jesus doesn't call us to praise our own names with dancing.  He calls us to praise His name.  Philippians 2:13 says: "For God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."  In whatever I do, I believe that God is at work in me.  So when I dance, I believe that God is at work in me.   Therefore, I am not afraid to dance with what He has given me, even I'm not the spectacular prima ballerina that I think would be best.

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

I believe that Jesus has a beautiful future in plan for me and for you too.

Will you dance for Him alone?

Imperfect but Loved

I am not perfect.
I am filled with shame when I sin.
I forget that my life is beautiful.
I cry.
I want Jesus, but forget to run to Him.
I run away from who I think Jesus is.
I cry.
I want my life to be perfect and everything to be easy for me.
I want to have a perfect body.
I am not perfect.

Lord, this is who I am.  When I look up at Your cross, and see you loving me, I cry, because I don't see what there is to love. I am not perfect, but You love me anyways. You will never stop loving me.  Someday, in heaven, I will know what that means, and I will rejoice with You.  Forever.

But right now, I am waiting.  

I trust in You.  Show me how to trust in You.

Amen

Just One

How often do I forget that I'm not the only one who feels alone?

Time and time again I find myself down and discouraged.

But to hear one encouraging voice, just one word of love - 

That can change it all.

One smile, one small action can be a reminder of God's love.

Just one.

Ballet, embroidery, gifts, oh my!

This project doesn't have much to do with ballet technique...but it does have an image of pointe shoes on it, so it counts, right?   Anyways, this is a gift that I made for my friend Sarah.  She is one of my dance buddies and has inspired me to do my best in many areas.  Well, what better way to say "happy birthday" to my ballerina friend, than with the gift of an embroidered pointe shoe?

The shoe was from a template from A Dancer's Book of Ballet Crafts (by Christina Aleta Haskin), and I just drew the letters myself.  I popped the finished product into a wooden frame that I got from JoAnnes (for a very convenient price!)  I wrapped it up in a piece of grocery bag, wrapped in blue ribbon, and voila!  A great gift for my friend.

Happy Birthday Sarahlina!  May this year be filled with joy, peace and lots of dancing!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: rejoice! Philippians 4:4

-Pandy

Prayer of St. Therese

Today may I know peace within

may I trust God that I am

exactly where I am meant to be.

May I not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May I use the gifts that I have 

received, and pass on the love that has been given me.

May I be content knowing I am a child of God.

Let His presence settle into my bones, and allow my soul the freedom to sind, dance, praise and love.

-St. Therese Lisieux

Beatiful

Why do I dance?  What is the reason for all of my struggles and hard work?

To show others how amazing I am

So that I can be fit and healthy

So I can say that I can do the splits

I look cool doing it

I love it

Because I am responding to the call to create something beautiful for Christ.

This is the call of Christ to every dancer:  Make something beautiful for me.  Give me something beautiful with what I have given you. 

Lord Jesus, I want to make something beautiful.  Show me how you want me to use what you have given me!