Hot August Night

Hot August Night. On August 6, 2013 it actually wasn’t all that hot; in fact it got downright chilly, but the evening lived up to its name nonetheless.

Every year my wife and I attend a “Concerts in the Park” near our house which features a Neil Diamond tribute singer. He and his band are quite remarkable at taking us back to the days of yore which stir up memories of our dating years.

During most of the two hours there are people, young and old, dancing in front of the stage. Although this has always been the case every year, it struck me quite poignantly this time. I saw young kids simply jumping with delight; people swaying, and waving, and spinning. What touched me most, however, was seeing how many elderly people joined in the gala. Some labored just to walk and were quite crippled, yet the fact that they wanted to feel the music and share it with each other drove them onward.

When the singer crooned out his ballads, couples leaned on each other with sweet reminiscences on their faces. As the music crescendoed into faster rhythms, they flailed and moved with complete abandon…happily singing along with all the lyrics. They frankly didn’t care what they looked like or even if they were in time with the music. Everyone dancing in front of that stage was in their glory, and it made me outright happy.

Then I got a little sad.

Now I ask you…does this happen in your church? Are you able to relish in the presence of the Holy Spirit and move and dance with complete abandon? Sadly I don’t, and I suspect very few of you do as well. And why is that? If droves of people have no problem expressing their happiness and joy while listening to their favorite entertainer, then shouldn’t our joy be expressed all the more to our glorious Savior? We intellectually say “yes” but our deeds reflect another answer.

Clearly there needs to be reverence shown when approaching the Lord—in fact we are to be in fear and awe of Him because of the incomprehensible totality that He is. That said, the Bible is filled with followers convening at feasts with singing and dancing and praising the Lord. There is a place for unbridled praise and joy when experiencing the tangible presence of our Creator.

I, for one, would hope to see a new attitude formed in me that would allow me to be free to praise, unchained by the inhibitions that weigh me down. My heart certainly jumps for joy at the church I attend, but there is clearly some work to be done to get this ol’ body to follow suit.

Blessings!

Greg Morton
© September 1, 2013

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