Line Dancing With Jesus

We celebrated my sister's birthday a couple weeks ago. I asked her what she wanted, and she said: "I want you to come line dancing with me."

NICE! That's an easy gift to get her.

So, Saturday we made our way to Mississauga and planned on heading to Nashville North for some line dancing fun.


Wednesday nights they put on line dancing lessons, and Saturdays are line dancing nights. I didn't realize that the Wednesday beginners don't go on Saturday nights. Saturday nights are reserved for the people who know what they are doing.

I was not one of those people.

It was a little quite awkward being one of the only people in the building that didn't know the dances. I was bumping into people, straining my neck to try and watch the people around me to get a sense of where this dance was headed. It left me feeling uncomfortable and like I was invading their (the people who knew what they were doing) space.

Ever think of Sunday morning like that?

We know the steps to the Church dance.
When to sit, when to stand.
When to sing.
When to shake hands.

It might seem like second nature to those of us who attend on a regular basis, but what about the guy who is there for the first time? The guy who is bringing his kids and has no idea what the protocol is for checking his kids in to children' ministry. Who doesn't understand why it's called a ministry. Isn't that a government thing?

Fresh eyes see things that we miss, simply because we've been in the environment for so long. Just like you noticing things in a friend's house that they miss, a new person sees things and systems in a way that you might not.

If someone walked into your church for the first time would they feel awkward as everyone around them dances through Sunday morning with ease, while they stumble and struggle to figure out the next step?

How can we make it easier for someone to show up at church for the first time and join in as we line dance with Jesus?