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fieldlilies
1/13/2008 9:30 pm
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In partner dancing, one person [ the man ] leads and one [ the woman ] follows. One dances forward while the other dances backwards. They do not do the exact same steps but often mirror each other.
An effective leader does not surprise the follower but gently 'tells' via movement or body language a fraction of a second before the actual move is executed what the move will be. He keeps in mind the follower's experience and ability. His goal is to have fun making his partner look good.
A good follower pays attention and keeps always at the ready to do/go where the leader indicates. She tries to match her style to the leader's.
An effective leader does not push or pull his partner around the dance floor - he communicates with proper, clear body language. And he learns this body language by taking lessons and practicing. An effective follower maintains correct posture so that she is easy to lead. If she keeps her posture properly she is less likely to be injured should the leader not yet know how to lead and accidently pull or push. She learns this by taking lessons and practicing.
Neither holds other tight but extends their hand for 'connection.' One hand pivots and slides inside the other's. Holding tight might cause injury. Sometimes a fancy turn means connection is lost momentarily. Sometimes a miss-step causes the loss of connection. In either case both dancers try to reconnect as soon as possible.
Then there's the music. It tells both dancers what style of dance to do and when to step; it keeps them in unison. It is the reason for the dance.
The analogy? The leader is the man who loves his wife. He is gentle, doesn't force things on her and wants her light to shine. The follower is the wife who submits to her husband by following his lead, paying attention to the little cues. But she remembers that her first duty is to her God should the husband ask her to do something that goes against God's teaching.
Wife and husband do not do the same things splitting duties in a 50/50 relationship - they each give 100% in their own duties, not 'stepping on each other's toes.'
The wife submitting and the husband laying down his life probably do not come naturally but they can be learned and practiced through Bible study, prayer and discipleship.
If life, the Lord's leading or mistakes mean there is a momentary separation both seek to reconnect as soon as possible.
The music is the Holy Spirit telling husband and wife how and when to move. He is the reason for the marriage relationship.
I love to dance!
Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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563 posts 1/13/2008 10:25 pm |
This is really good and very true. Thanks for this post. I am printing this one to read on my bathroom mirror.
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1/14/2008 2:48 am |
Wonderful post! What a great analogy, now I just need a dance partner! I know the Lord will take care of that too, in His time! Blessings!
God's blessings always, Karen
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world. ~C.S. Lewis~
Time to say goodbye
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4422 posts 1/14/2008 6:02 am |
Quoting middy1: This is really good and very true. Thanks for this post. I am printing this one to read on my bathroom mirror.
I'm so glad you like it. Thanks for stopping by! Do you dance?
Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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4422 posts 1/14/2008 6:04 am |
Quoting Kharbor: Wonderful post! What a great analogy, now I just need a dance partner! I know the Lord will take care of that too, in His time! Blessings!
I'm waiting for a 'dance partner' too. In the meantime we have Jesus and some very beautiful 'music!'

Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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15445 posts 1/14/2008 4:02 pm |
come on sister, i will dance with you, hahahaha, cheers
May the Lord bless you and keep you
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8 posts 4/14/2008 12:07 pm |
My problem in dancing with the Lion of Judah often is that I as a man am not used to the arm position of the led part but often want to lead Him ^^
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4422 posts 4/14/2008 12:57 pm |
Quoting Liondancer: My problem in dancing with the Lion of Judah often is that I as a man am not used to the arm position of the led part but often want to lead Him ^^
Yes, we get in trouble if we try to back lead Jesus! 
Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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6000 posts 4/16/2008 6:32 pm |
After salsa dancing one evening with an amazingly talented partner (he taught dance as his day job) I wrote this: The Dance of Life
Susan aka Red God gives the very best to those who leave the choices to Him. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine...to Him be the glory. Eph 3:20
The parable of a man and his car The Cottage
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2264 posts 4/17/2008 3:05 pm |
What a gawjus analogy lilies, U bright cookie U 
Luv is patient, kind, unselfish, hopes 4 the best...
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4422 posts 4/17/2008 8:11 pm |
Quoting OneLady7: What a gawjus analogy lilies, U bright cookie U 
Cookie? Did someone say, 'cookie?' 
Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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167 posts 4/23/2008 8:45 pm |
Beautiful story, keep the blogs coming. I love to dance, too. Do you want a best friend? 
Christianity for Dummies: Chapter 4 : Go to Church Christianity for Dummies: Chapter 3 : Sin and Repentence Christianity for Dummies: Chapter 2 Salvation Christianity for Dummies: Prologue and Chapter 1 : Praying In the Heat of the Night: Testimony Chapter 4 Judging and Gossiping , Commitment and Covenant: For All (Part 15, 16 and End) Commitment and Covenant: For All (Part 13 and 14) , Commitment and Covenant: For Men (Part 11 and 12 ) Commitment and Covenant: For Men (Part 9 and 10 ) , Commitment and Covenant: For Women (Part 8 ) Commitment and Covenant: For Women (Part 7) , Commitment and Covenant: For Women (Part 5 & 6) Commitment and Covenant: Relationships (Part 4) , Commitment and Covenant: Relationships (Part 3) Commitment and Covenant: Relationships (Part 1 & 2) , Walk the Walk Self Esteem....and the 8-Cow Wife , I am a Christian…So What Now? Communicating According to the Scriptures , Friend vs. Spouse Christ in the cells of our body. , The Love-Hate list
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4422 posts 4/24/2008 4:45 am |
Quoting deepestfaith: Beautiful story, keep the blogs coming. I love to dance, too. Do you want a best friend? 
I went dancing Sunday and at the end of the evening one of the expert dancers asked me to dance. We were all over that dance floor despite the fact that we were doing a slot dance. It was amazing. And so much fun! How did lil ol' Fieldlilies keep up with him? I kept my eyes on him. I need to add that to my analogy. Any member of the Bride of Christ needs to keep their eyes on Jesus. Follow Him. And enjoy the amazing dance that will follow.

So... What kind of dances do you know???
Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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167 posts 4/29/2008 7:07 am |
Quoting fieldlilies: I went dancing Sunday and at the end of the evening one of the expert dancers asked me to dance. We were all over that dance floor despite the fact that we were doing a slot dance. It was amazing. And so much fun! How did lil ol' Fieldlilies keep up with him? I kept my eyes on him. I need to add that to my analogy. Any member of the Bride of Christ needs to keep their eyes on Jesus. Follow Him. And enjoy the amazing dance that will follow.

So... What kind of dances do you know???
I had a friend when I was in high school that owned an Arthur Murray studio. I have learned most dances although I might be rusty on some or them. After watching dances with the stars I would like to learn the Cha cha. I don't 2 step either, yet. If it was important to a partner though, I am sure I could learn. Shag by far is my favorite. I have an easy flip move that help win a couple shag contests when I was younger, of course my partner has to be under 180 lbs. or the flip might be a disaster.
Christianity for Dummies: Chapter 4 : Go to Church Christianity for Dummies: Chapter 3 : Sin and Repentence Christianity for Dummies: Chapter 2 Salvation Christianity for Dummies: Prologue and Chapter 1 : Praying In the Heat of the Night: Testimony Chapter 4 Judging and Gossiping , Commitment and Covenant: For All (Part 15, 16 and End) Commitment and Covenant: For All (Part 13 and 14) , Commitment and Covenant: For Men (Part 11 and 12 ) Commitment and Covenant: For Men (Part 9 and 10 ) , Commitment and Covenant: For Women (Part 8 ) Commitment and Covenant: For Women (Part 7) , Commitment and Covenant: For Women (Part 5 & 6) Commitment and Covenant: Relationships (Part 4) , Commitment and Covenant: Relationships (Part 3) Commitment and Covenant: Relationships (Part 1 & 2) , Walk the Walk Self Esteem....and the 8-Cow Wife , I am a Christian…So What Now? Communicating According to the Scriptures , Friend vs. Spouse Christ in the cells of our body. , The Love-Hate list
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4422 posts 4/29/2008 9:32 am |
Quoting deepestfaith: I had a friend when I was in high school that owned an Arthur Murray studio. I have learned most dances although I might be rusty on some or them. After watching dances with the stars I would like to learn the Cha cha. I don't 2 step either, yet. If it was important to a partner though, I am sure I could learn. Shag by far is my favorite. I have an easy flip move that help win a couple shag contests when I was younger, of course my partner has to be under 180 lbs. or the flip might be a disaster.
A shag flip!! Oh, my!
When I knew I was moving to NC I looked forward to learning shag. Once here I took a lesson. It was so awful I never tried again! He was a good teacher technically but the emotional trauma of him lining up the single women along the wall and having us just watch the couples... Not good.
Here the shaggers are major smokers so now I'm kind of glad I ended up in West Coast Swing instead. Few of 'us' smoke.
But I love all the partner dances.
Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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2083 posts 6/7/2008 9:13 am |
We need a dancing smiley, don't you think? 
I saw the link to this post on you signature line, and I just HAD to come read it! 
Awesome analogy! Thanks for sharing! I'm still just a beginner, but I'm learning, and, yes, I often think of dance as an analogy of life. It is so interesting what you learn about a person and the interaction - a sense of relationship - that develops as you dance even just one dance. Some insist on a strong lead, some enjoy a gentle lead ( like mine )... You learn so much about a person just by dancing with them. It is really amazing.
But always a good lead is a clear lead. "Strong" and "clear" are different things. Also, to be a better leader it really helps to try following! It's not so easy! They teach a west coast swing switch lead/follow class here, which I hope to take in the Fall.
Yes, dancing is teaching me quite a bit about myself in my role as a leader, and in life and relationships in general.
Blessings!
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness..." Matt 6:33.
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4422 posts 6/7/2008 6:00 pm |
Quoting StrGzr:
We need a dancing smiley, don't you think? 
I saw the link to this post on you signature line, and I just HAD to come read it! 
Awesome analogy! Thanks for sharing! I'm still just a beginner, but I'm learning, and, yes, I often think of dance as an analogy of life. It is so interesting what you learn about a person and the interaction - a sense of relationship - that develops as you dance even just one dance. Some insist on a strong lead, some enjoy a gentle lead ( like mine )... You learn so much about a person just by dancing with them. It is really amazing.
But always a good lead is a clear lead. "Strong" and "clear" are different things. Also, to be a better leader it really helps to try following! It's not so easy! They teach a west coast swing switch lead/follow class here, which I hope to take in the Fall.
Yes, dancing is teaching me quite a bit about myself in my role as a leader, and in life and relationships in general.
Blessings!
Yes, a dancing smiley would be great. 
I just went to a wedding with no dancing! Shocking! 
Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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