For a Dancer
Until the dance becomes your own
I can get lost in a song or music, just ask my family. If a certain song is playing, one needs to allow me to remain in my own world and live out the moment. If there’s a song on the radio and I arrive home, I’ll be tucked away in my garage and listen until completion. I’ve probably heard it a thousand times before, but I need to listen to the end. The song doesn’t even need lyrics but sometimes the lyrics dance around in my head and linger on and on.
This song, For A Dancer, by Jackson Browne, is one that I really love. It’s not the greatest song ever written, but it’s kind of like life. My life isn’t something unbelievable, but it’s one I am very grateful for. Our lives may not reflect the greatest song out there, but that is completely okay! I don’t need fame and fortune, just the equivalent of a really good song. The song has great lyrics, a great beat and there’s something about it that I just love.
A few notable words from For A Dancer.
Just do the steps that you’ve been shown
by everyone you’ve ever known
Until the dance becomes your very own
Isn’t that what we want for our kids? To learn the dance, from those in their lives, and then develop their own dance?
Pay attention to the open sky
The sky allows us to wonder and wander into the beyond.
Keep a fire for the human race
Let you prayers go drifting into space
Shouldn’t we care more for our fellow humans? Some say we’re only human, but what does that mean? It allows for mistakes and failures, I get that, but we are wonderfully made. We’re able to appreciate the sound of music, the wonder of a flower in bloom and the beauty of the sea and sky. We have the capacity to create, dream and show compassion.
Back to music.
Just yesterday, my daughter Sarah introduced me to a new artist by the name of Brandie Carlile. There’s so much I liked about her. Her voice sings a story, and there’s nothing like a good story. Her songs bring you to a place and an emotion. We don’t all relate or feel emotions the same, but I think for those of us who are entuned to our more sensitive side, you will appreciate her lyrics- the music is a given.
Music often says what we feel in our hearts but just can’t express. It certainly can take us to a place in our memory. Just another trigger, like a sight or even a scent.
I keep a list, well actually I have lots of lists in various places, of songs that I love for all different occasions in life. Landslide: by Fleetwood Mac is a life-prayer-song : “can I handle the seasons of my life?” I sure hope I can, but maybe that’s a thought for another day.
As we go through the day we live out the dance we learned along the way. Much of the dance we learned when we were young. Some of that dance we need to unlearn and adjust and some steps we need to return to. The key might be to be open, aware, honest and grateful for being able to dance in the life we are given.
