The world needs more lerts... and dancers.

By Sarah Teichmann


So here we are – the beginning of December and the beginning of Advent. Now let me share a little secret with you all. There was a time (not too long ago) that I did not understand the meaning of Advent. I realized that Advent was the time before Christmas where we got out our family Advent calendar and got out our Advent wreath with four beautiful candles. I did not realize that Advent was a time of preparation. “Prepare? Prepare for what?” I would ask myself. Was this preparation for the holidays? Like shopping, baking, decorating, etc? I also used to think that the Bible lessons read in church were happy, fluffy “Christmassy” readings.

Then (not too long ago) I started to pay attention to the Bible readings during Advent. Have you been paying attention, as well? They’re not very fluffy. An example of this apparent lack of fluffiness is from the first week of Advent this year. The Gospel text for the week was from Mark 13:24-37. We’re told to keep awake, keep alert for we do not know when Jesus will come again. Hmm… this is definitely not fluffy stuff. This can be quite serious! But let’s remember that Advent is also a time that we look forward to the celebration of when Jesus first came into the world. So Advent is a mixture of remembering the past and looking forward to the future.

And during Advent we are told over and over and over again to be alert. I like the joke “Be alert, because the world needs more lerts.” All joking aside, we are called to be alert, keep awake!!!

Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake. Mark 13:35-37

So how do we keep awake?

My suggestion to this question is: dancing.

Dancing? Dancing?! Stay with me on this one.

Whenever I’m waiting around for something or someone I find that I sway my hips back and forth. The longer I wait the more likely I am to start doing dance moves. Now don’t get images of Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, or Madonna in your heads—because I’m pretty bad at dancing. BUT I dance.

And I realize that in this waiting period, where I‘m dancing, I’m having a good time. I’m laughing. I’m smiling. I’m thinking about the joy that is in my heart and the joy that fills our world.

Think about Ellen Degeneres’ show Ellen where she begins the show by dancing. The audience LOVES it, and they dance as well. The energy spreads and you can feel the joy and good feelings.

Hmm… spreading joy… spreading good news? Isn’t that what we Christians are called to do? Could my dancing be a way to spread God’s good news and joy as I keep alert?! My gosh – I think I’m onto something!

Don’t forget to dance friends. It’s a good way to keep awake, celebrate life’s rhythm, and spread God’s love and joy where you are!