It seems in life that we take three steps forward, and three steps back; sometimes, we wonder if we are making any progress at all! All those steps add up and help us find our way. What matters most, is that we keep taking the next step, even if we feel a little unsteady.
Every step is a bold act of faith. It is a leap into the unknown, because we have not been there before. The future stretches before us, not unlike a long, open road.
We rise with the sun, and set out on our way, looking for familiar landmarks, and safe passages. Oddly, at times, the road opens up, and not much of it is familiar at all. We come to a crossroads, a place where our next steps are daunting. We do not always know which way to go.
Change can be downright intimidating, and decisions can seem almost impossible to make. We like the comfort of knowing that the ground beneath our feet is solid ground…and ground we know. We like our journey to be one we can navigate easily.
But therein lies the mystery of life; therein lies the beauty of the dance. The open road needs all that we have to give. It needs our dancing feet that will sometimes stumble. It needs our focus so we ultimately stay on the road that leads us ‘home’.
And what exactly is ‘home?’ Simply this: God has gifted us with this one life here upon the earth, and He has scattered joy for us in all kinds of unexpected places. We find it as we travel the road, and lift the shimmering shards of broken glass, and see that even these shards sparkle in the sun. We must train our eyes to see the brilliant light amidst the dust, amidst the tired feet. The sparkling glass is everywhere. Sometimes, we do not notice it. Sometimes, we are too tired to pick it up. Sometimes, we think it is not ours to collect. God longs for us to find good and perfect gifts. It gives Him great pleasure when we accept and share His gifts.
Ultimately, our home will be in heaven at the end of our days, at the end of our earthly journey. But, this sparkling glass we find upon the road of life is a promise of the heaven that will be. There are friends we meet along the way, people who are always there for us no matter what, the song of a bird singing His praises, rain or shine, the moments of grace that fill our lives with joy.
A dance need not be perfect in order to be beautiful. It simply needs to be our own. We must listen for the music that seems right for us. We must rest on the road when we are weary and need a break. Sometimes, we may go forward three steps, and then, three steps backward. But, who knows? We keep moving, and the music keeps playing…the dance is an art form, and so is life itself. We must celebrate the music wherever we find ourselves on the dance floor…and we must be forever searching for those shards of glass, reflecting like diamonds upon our path.
