Early on in my ministry, I was a director at a church camp. There was a tradition at camp that each week would end with a dance on Friday night. A tradition kept alive by the campers. Not so much by the staff who were usually exhausted by that point and were ready to enjoy our 36 hours of time off spent mostly sleeping in some air-conditioned oasis.
But the campers persisted so we would drag out the old stereo that still had an 8-track player and played DJ for the campers. Typically, the group would divide itself like two football teams on opposite sides of the line of scrimmage: boys on one side, girls on the other. Neither brave enough to venture into the middle. We were destined to have a dance with no dancers.
Finally, one of the counselors would hit the dance floor to a song like “Twist and Shout” being goofy enough that the campers lost their inhibitions and joined them. That’s all they needed, someone to show them the way. We danced into the night and the tradition continued for another year.
“But what will I compare this generation?” Jesus said, “We played the flute for you and you did not dance.” This passage from Matthew 11:17 is one of those times we see Jesus get a little peeved. He’s just made a passionate call to discipleship, and yet the crowds remain on the sidelines.
Of course, most of us would love to respond to Jesus’ call to discipleship, his invitation to dance, but we are convinced we don’t belong on the dance floor. Maybe we don’t have time to dance. Maybe we are too worn down, too tired to dance. Maybe our hearts are too heavy to have music lift our spirits and move our feet to the rhythm of life. I heard the lament recently, “Can’t we have just one week without a crisis, a natural disaster, another report of violence or war?”
Our burdens are heavy. Some are obvious to everyone. Some are pretty good at hiding them, holding our pain on the inside. Sometimes the burdens are brought on by a world that overwhelms us with needs to great to be met, expectations that we could never live up to. Or perhaps a world that fails to comprehend the burden of injustices. A world that seems controlled by chaos and not by a loving creator who makes everything right and good.
To this, Jesus says, “Come to me all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30)
When the burdens of stress, grief or suffering overwhelm us it can feel like we are stranded on an island of loneliness. But we are not created to be on our own. Humans are built for relationships. To be in community.
Through his loving kindness and gentleness, we are not left alone, we can learn to navigate our challenges and walk in wisdom knowing Jesus is with us, promising to take on the burdens with us so that we will find rest in what would otherwise be a difficult and lonely journey.
“Come to me,” our Savior says. We do not have to go it alone. Our dance partner invites us onto the dance floor to lift our spirits and move our feet to the rhythm of life.
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Todd Hackman is senior pastor at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Monroe.
