BEAUTIFULLY AWARE

“Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19

Back in one of my first years with a professional ballet company, I learned a vital lesson that not only took my dancing to a new level, but it also affected the way I want to live my life outside of pointe shoes and tutus. We were working on a ballet called Giselle at the time – one of the great, classical ballets of all time, but also one of the most emotional and sad ballets. It’s kind of a downer – not gonna lie! I didn’t really realize what the story was about or the depth of emotion it would take to make it come alive to the audience until our dress rehearsal at the theater. So our first run through at the theater, I was all bubbly and excited inside because that is what the theater does to me! I knew the role I was playing was a more serious one, but I didn’t understand why. So I finished that first run through, pleased that I had remembered all my steps, kept in time with the music, and gotten through my variation without any major bobbles. My director approached me afterwards to tell me that I did a good job with the steps, but I was missing the emotion behind it all. Ug….not so good feedback. He told me to go talk to one of the older, more experienced dancers and find out how she got to that place of character and emotion that I was missing. So, almost embarrassed, I asked an older dancer what she was thinking when she danced this role alongside me. Expecting a short answer, she took me by complete surprise when she described in full detail all she was thinking and imagining when she was dancing. She described shadows, darkness, willowy trees, fog, mystery….a haunting, eery sadness that lurked through these dark woods that we, the willies, were dancing through. She lived it on stage. She was not herself on stage – she was the role she was dancing.

I realized I had to think like my character would think and feel and be and see all that my character would feel and be and see. I realized that I had to fully step into that role, trusting that my muscle memory would kick in and remember the steps, so I could focus on being the character. It is the only way my character would be believable to the audience. And another added perk was that it took away my nervousness because I was so focused on becoming the character.

It changed the way I danced, and it makes me think about the way I live. I want to step fully into the roles God designed for me, be fully present and aware of His beautiful gifts….not just coast. God is doing a new thing in your life, if you will step fully into His loving care…it will spring up if you fully lean on Him. Coasting through life is our natural inclination. He calls us to wake up, come alive, and live abundantly with great joy. He wouldn’t call us to it, if it weren’t possible. He makes it possible. He will help you.

Prayer: “Sweet Lord, wake me up to the amazing gift of knowing You. Help me be fully present in each moment, beautifully aware of all that You are.”