#Spirituality – I and Thou Reflections

Sacred Dance: The Tango

Finding God in the Dance

Set a fire in my soul.
-Third Day

*Image Credit: Tango Dancers free image by stockcake.com*

The Tango originated in Argentina and Uruguay in the 19th century. Some believe the word tango may come from the Yoruba word “Shango,” meaning the God of Thunder in African culture. It is a dance of sharp lines and deep movement of steps, pauses, and intensity.

The Tango.
A dance of fire.
Precise. Intense.
Pulling two people into deeper awareness.
Every step.
Every pause.
Every movement.
Deliberate, charged, and chosen.

Faith is like the Tango.
Bold. Risky.
A dance of strength and surrender,
letting the Spirit lead you where you might otherwise waver.

Listen.
Feel the weight.
The pull.
The direction.
Move with intention.
With love. Not fear.

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
Psalm 18:32

May you feel secure in God’s love.
May you trust the fire burning
inside your soul
as God leads you in the dance of life.

#SacredDance #Dance #Love #SacredMovement #Faith #FaithAndDance #JoyInMotion #Waltz #2Step #Foxtrot #Rumba #Tango #LifeJourney #CreativeDevotional #FaithBased #Spirituality

Sacred Dance: The Foxtrot

Finding God in the Dance

And if you say the word,
I can stay with you.
— The Beatles

The Foxtrot emerged in the early 1900s as a smooth, flowing partner dance— long, gliding steps, gentle rises, and easy forward motion. Not rushed. Not rigid. Just a quiet confidence that grows as you move.

The Foxtrot.
A graceful dance.
Slow‑slow. Quick‑quick.
A rhythm that feels like walking
with a little more ease with each step.

Faith is like the Foxtrot.
It’s learning to move with God—
in sync, with time, flowing and gliding together,
much like a husband and wife who’ve learned each other’s rhythm.

Image Credit: Circe Denyer has released this “Two Birds Flying”
image under Public Domain license.

Love invites us to count our steps.
To trust the glide.
To remember the rhythm.
And when we do, our heart opens.
Fear softens.
As we find ourselves dancing through the journey of life.

God meets us here, too.
With grace.
With strength.
As if to say, “Just stay close. We’ll move together.”

Faith has its moments.
A slow-slow. Or a quick-quick.
Courage and surrender.
Trust and release.
Knowing that our partner is right there beside us.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly;
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Psalm 37:23

May God’s hand steady your steps
and teach you how to glide with grace.
And may His love meet you in every step you take.

#SacredDance #Dance #Love #SacredMovement #Faith #FaithAndDance
#JoyInMotion #Waltz #2Step #Foxtrot #Rumba #Tango #LifeJourney #CreativeDevotional #FaithBased #Spirituality

Sacred Dance: The Two-Step

Finding God in the Dance

Look into my eyes,
you will see what you mean to me.
– Bryan Adams

Image Credit: *“Elegance in Motion: Black-winged Stilts on Emerald Waters”*
*by Carlos Eduardo Joos is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

The Two‑Step began in the late 1800s as a simple, steady partner dance—two easy steps forward, two steps back, moving in a gentle 2/4 rhythm. Nothing fancy. Nothing complicated. Just two people finding the same beat and letting their bodies move to the music.

The Two-Step.
A simple dance.
Step forward, step back.
Weight shifts. Hands connect.
Bodies find a shared sway.

Being seen is one of the deepest longings of the human heart.
Not just noticed. Not just tolerated.
Truly seen—known, valued, and chosen.
This is the kind of love that says: I see you. I’m not going anywhere.
We don’t have to rush. We can take this one step at a time.

God meets us like that.
Not with pressure, but with presence.

Not with demands, but with invitation.
A hand extended.
A whisper that says: Walk with Me. Let’s move together.

Sometimes faith feels less like a leap
and more like a Two‑Step—
small, repeated choices
to stay close,
to keep showing up,
to let your heart fall in sync
with the One who loves you.

Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?
Amos 3:3

May your steps fall into sync with the heart of God.
May you discover, with each step you take,
how to walk closer to Him.

#SacredDance #Dance #Love #SacredMovement #Faith #FaithAndDance #JoyInMotion #Waltz #2Step #Foxtrot #Rumba #Tango #LifeJourney #CreativeDevotional #FaithBased #Spirituality

Sacred Dance: The Waltz

Finding God in the Dance

I hope you know someone loves you.— Rascal Flatts

Image Credit: *“BALLROOM Dancing” by Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

The Waltz began sometime between the 13th and 16th Centuries. Probably in Germany. But it wasn’t until the early 19th Century that The Waltz became scandalous for its intimate posture. This fun fact fueled its allure.

The Waltz.
Doors open. Music plays.
Hands entwined.
Feet stepping in concert.
Soft. Graceful. Intimate.
A blessing in motion.

Music unleashes a sacred dance to soothe the soul and wake up the body in a dance meant only for two.

In the waltz, you are held — supported, steadied. It is a dance that teaches the heart how to lean into love again.

Let love find its rhythm wherever it leads and let God lead you in its sacred dance.

Love invites us to celebrate.
To sway to the music in our hearts.
To place our trust in our dance partner.
It is the rise and the fall.
It is the right and the left.

You turned my mourning into dancing.
Psalm 30:11

May your steps take you where you want to be.
May you be in sync with all those you love.

#SacredDance #Dance #Love #SacredMovement #Faith #FaithAndDance #JoyInMotion #Waltz #2Step #Foxtrot #Rumba #Tango #LifeJourney #CreativeDevotional #FaithBased #Spirituality

Sacred Dance: Introduction

Finding God in the Dance

Let my love open the door.
Pete Townshend

Image Credit: *“Belly dance” by Krisztina. Konczos is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.*

Dance is more than movement.
It is heart.
It is soul.
It is love.
It is sacred.

Scripture shows us that dance is a sacred expression of joy and worship — a movement that carries the heart toward God. It stretches beyond time and culture. It is Divine.

When we look at dance through the eyes of the Divine, we see it as:
A celebration of joy.
A prayer in motion.
Movements of surrender.
A way of awakening the soul to lift praises toward God.

Every sacred journey begins with an invitation.
An open door into movement, joy, and the presence of God.

This series encourages you to dance to the music within your soul. The one you hear when you’re alone. The one you hear with a partner. And the quiet song you hear when you spend time with God.

Each post begins with a lyric and a dance fact, then leads into a reflection and blessing.

Dance is the celebration–
the celebration of love,
the celebration of promise,
the celebration of two moving as one,
trusting the One who leads you step by step.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.
Psalm 37:23

May love open the door.
May your next steps become a sacred dance.

#SacredDance #Dance #Love #SacredMovement #Faith #FaithAndDance #JoyInMotion #Waltz #2Step #Foxtrot #Rumba #Tango #LifeJourney #CreativeDevotional #Spirituality

When We Prepare Our Heart

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.

— Luke 3:4

Questions to Ponder:

How might you prepare your heart for the Holidays?

Reflection:

Thanksgiving invited us to gather.
To remember.
To give thanks.

Now, we must prepare our hearts for what is to come.

A time to wait.
To wonder.
To give.
To receive.

We must enter this season with a new perspective.
One that is kind.
Full of compassion.
One willing to honor the wishes of others.

Let’s turn inward this holiday season.
Inward to our hearts.
And the hearts of others.
Because that is where love is.

Let’s not get sucked into the secular world.
The world of ostentatious decorations.
Outlandish gifts that soon fall apart.

Let’s do it differently.
Let’s make something this year.
Cook a meal.
Put together a soup jar.
Knit a scarf.
Write a poem.
Whatever it is, create gifts from the heart.

When Christmas arrives,
it’s not about the presents.
It’s about the presence.
Of our loved ones.
In our homes with us or in our hearts.
Because home is where the heart is.

When we prepare our hearts,
We make room for the light that breaks through the darkness.
We pour our love into others.
We find hope that meets us right where we are.

As we close out this series of sacred belonging, we reflect on the past few weeks.
We created space
We welcomed the stranger.
We received grace—and now offer it more freely.
We rose.
We gathered.
We gave thanks.

And now, we prepare.
Not just for a holiday, but for a holy arrival.

One that is of Sacred Belonging.

#SacredBelonging #Faith #SpiritualJourney #Grace #Thanksgiving #ThankfulHeart #Spirituality

When We Give Thanks

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

Give thanks in all circumstances…

— 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Question to Ponder:

How do we give thanks when we don’t feel very thankful?

Reflection:

The season of thanksgiving calls us to stop and pause.
To reflect on what we have.
And when we do, sometimes it stirs up what we may have lost.

God did not promise us rainbows and puppy dogs.
Nor did He promise us a trouble-free life.

So, no matter where you are in life, you can be thankful.
Thankful for being alive.
Thankful for what you do have.
Even if it isn’t much.

Remember that God loves a cheerful giver.
A person who gives thanks.
Day after day.
Even when they don’t feel like it.

When we give thanks,
We are honoring God, others, and ourselves.
Being thankful draws us near to God.

Let’s be thankful for memories.
Let’s be thankful for what is good.
Let’s be thankful for the journey.
Let’s be thankful for where we may go next.

Thanksgiving is not just a day.
It’s a way of being.
A way of seeing.
A way of belonging.

One that is of Sacred Belonging.

#SacredBelonging #Faith #SpiritualJourney #Grace #Thanksgiving #ThankfulHeart #Spirituality

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

When We Give Grace

A Series of Sacred Belongings

Scripture for Today:

From His fullness we have all received,
grace upon grace.

— John 1:16

Questions to Ponder:

How often do you need a bit of grace?
And more importantly,
how often do you give grace to others and yourself?

Reflection:

Some might say that only God can give grace. Yet, I don’t think that.

When we receive God into our hearts and daily lives, we are given grace. And it is that grace, the grace from God, that we can choose to offer others.

Grace is a beautiful gift.
We give grace to those whose hearts may feel sad.
Those who feel empty inside.
Those who pour themselves into caring for others.
Those who grieve.
Those who are struggling.

When we give grace, we must follow God’s lead.
To give it freely.
Without expectation.

When we do that, we start to see the light.
It flickers from the soul.
A kind word.
A soft smile.
A quiet nod.

Grace fills us up.
It makes us whole.
It makes us seen.
Affirmed.
Valued.

Grace is abundant if we want it to be.

God wants us to receive his grace—
So we can pour it out to others.
For us to shine the light…
On the path where we were always meant to be.

One that is of Sacred Belonging.

#Grace #Faith #SpiritualJourney #ThankfulHeart #Thanksgiving #Spirituality

When We Are Chosen

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

I have called you by name; you are mine.

— Isaiah 43:1

Reflection:

There’s something special about being chosen. It’s not about anything we did or didn’t do. Nor is it how smart we are or how well we do something.

But simply because we are who we are.

God’s choosing is relational.
Eternal.
Love.

Yet there is an element of transaction.

God gives.
Freely.
Still, we must do something.
And that is what we must receive.

We must consciously accept God’s gift.
When we do, we become treasure—
like the woman who searched for the lost coin,
rejoicing when it was found.

We are cherished.
Even when we feel forgotten.
Even when we feel unworthy.
Even when we feel like we don’t belong. We do. We belong.

We belong to the One—
The One who calls us by name.

One of Sacred Belonging.

#Faith #Grace #SacredBelonging #ThankfulHeart #Thanksgiving #Spirituality

When We Create Space

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture of Today:

You will make known to me the path of life;
in Your presence is fullness of joy…

— Psalm 16:11

Questions to Ponder:

Where in your life do you need more space?
What might you need to release to make room?

Reflection:

Who couldn’t use a little more space?
Or a snow day in the middle of summer?

We live in a world that fills quickly.
Calendars.
Closets.
Conversations.
Even our hearts can feel crowded.

But sacred belonging begins with space.
Space to breathe.
Space to listen.
Space to be.

Creating space is not just about clearing clutter.
It’s about intention.
It’s about making room for what matters.

For God. For others. For the quiet parts of ourselves.

Sometimes we create space by saying no.
Sometimes by saying yes. Or simply by pausing.

When we create space, we invite presence.
Presence of the Divine.
So the door to connection can open.
With family.
With friends.
With ourselves.

Which leads us to a sense of belonging.

One that is of Sacred Belonging.

#Faith #Grace #ThankfulHearts #Thanksgiving #SacredBelonging #Spirituality