April Showers Include Swing Dancing!

For the month of April I chose to tackle a swing dancing class.  Specifically, Lindy-Hop.  If you don't know what Lindy Hop is, take a look at the video below.  Basically, I learned how to do that in seven two-hour session. hah!  

I learned a few things in this class though, that didn't have to do with the basics of Lindy Hop (which is what the purpose of the class was....to learn the basics).  I learned a lot about what it means to lead and follow, what it looks and feels like to follow in a dance like Lindy and how these things relate to real-life relationships (friends, co-workers, etc) as well as how this relates to my relationship with Christ.

When you follow in Lindy, you don't know what the lead is going to have you do.  You have to WAIT to be led into a move, and not guess and just do you own thing while letting the lead pretend he's actually leading.  YOU HAVE TO WAIT. I suck at waiting.  In dance and in life.  If I'm supposed to be following someone, I have to be patient, and wait for their lead.  I have to LET THE LEADER LEAD.  Which is so hard!  I have to be patient and wait for Jesus' guidance in life situations.  I have to let Him lead me, and not just do whatever I want and call it following.

Once you're waiting you have to be tuned in to what the lead is doing.  You have to be sensitive, you have to pay attention, and you have to trust that they're going to lead you into something that is possible.  Same thing in life.  I suck at listening and being ready to hear what people have to say.  I suck at listening to the Spirit.  I'd rather just go on my bumbling way and sometimes get glimpses of leadership from others and ultimately from Christ.  But, the point is to wait and LISTEN.  I have to actually be ready to hear from a leader.  I have to actually be ready to hear from Christ.  The only way to do this is to listen and be in tune with the Spirit and His guiding.  I have to know Christ and the Holy Spirit to be able to hear them clearly.

Well, now for the fun stuff, here are some pictures from the class!

Me and Kari waiting to start dancing!

Look at all those fancy pants dancers.

Updated List!

1.  Take a lesson in down-hill skiing.

2.  Attend a wine tasting event.

3.  Go to a roller derby.

4.  Take a swing dancing class.

5.  Get my nose pierced.

6.  Take a long bike ride through Minnesota.

7.  Take a decorating/baking class.

8.  Go to the top of the Foshay.

9.  Go trap shooting or to a shooting range...

and actually shoot a gun.

10.  Go on a brewery tour.

11.  Go sailing on Lake Calhoun.

12.  Pick up an instrument.

aka: Play it each day for a month.