One God. Above all, through all, in all.
Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
Psalm 149: 3
A high trill accompanies the singing as the women move, swaying their bodies back and forth, arms outstretched in joy, feet stepping to the pulsing beats. Moving in and around each other, faces smiling in delight, gleefully dancing expressing hearts filled with gratitude.
This is a time of celebration. The water well is dug and the fresh water flows into the five hand pumps scattered throughout the Tanzanian village.
The women dance for joy as they no longer need to walk five kilometers to get water from a green slim filled mud hole. They sing for the future health of their children who now drink clean water. They smile for the promises kept by those providing assistance in digging the well. They offer songs of praise to God.
This is a time of celebration and happiness rises within their bodies. They dance to embody the gratitude they know deep within, moving them beyond the limited expression of words.
Dancing tells the stories their hearts remember. Dancing expresses the hope their souls affirm. Dancing bears witness to the connectedness of their families. Dancing weaves together the old and young, strong and weak, wise and foolish, stranger and friend into a village of wholeness.
Breathprayer:
Breathing in: All Praise…
Breathing out: … echoing into the universe.
Reflection: When have you danced in gratitude and praise?
This reflection is written for the Online Lenten Devotion of the Southeast Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American.
www.seiasynod.org/lent
Photo is by Jennie Peakin Photography