Twirling
Recently I was in an airport waiting for a flight and I observed a little girl, maybe four or five years of age, twirling. She was not disruptive, nor was she unruly. She was just happy twirling in her own little world.
It made we wonder, when did I stop twirling? What age is the cut-off for enjoying life with a good old-fashioned twirl? I was just as bored and tired of waiting as this little girl. I wanted to get up and twirl. I was envious of her and wanted to join in her simple delight.
This memory came back to me when I reflected on the story of King David dancing before the ark of the covenant (2 Samuel 6). When David brought the ark to Jerusalem he not only offered sacrifices, but he also danced before God with childlike abandon. I can only imagine this was not what most people expected of the king. I am sure they were surprised by his lack of decorum and were shocked by his outrageous spontaneity. Yet David was so filled with the joy and the love of the Lord that he couldn’t help himself.
There are times when I am praying before the Blessed Sacrament that I am overcome with delight. I want to break into song, and if I am alone, I do! When the joy of the Lord permeates my being, I might chant a Psalm or sing a favorite hymn. Who knows, one of these times I might just follow the example of King David and that girl by doing a little twirling of my own!
Credit: Image of David dancing before the ark is by James Tissot as found at textweek.com