Catholic Life and Thought: Dancing

J.M.J.A.T.K.G

Last weekend a friend invited me to an event he helped organize called "Praise Jam". It's where local Christian artists sang and danced to Christian music. I was asked to sit at a booth and give out information for a high school retreat I used to be involved in.
When I arrived about half way through, the "praising" was going strong.
The other churches had a huge turn out- the Catholics...not so much.

(Though in their defense there was a huge benefit auction at the Knights of Columbus Hall at the same time- with alcohol and air conditioning.)
Many people were standing in the hot sun raising their hands, eyes closed...in praise. I was truly amazed.
I was so amazed I just sat there feeling bad that I didn't have the nerve to get out there and do the same thing. It was like something glued me to my chair. It reminded me of what a very wise priest once told us about Catholics...

We are the frozen chosen.

As I sat there I reflected on why this was. I mean, I have been to many praise and worship services and have danced right along. Every time "Waves of Mercy" or "Days of Elijah" or "Trading my Sorrows" started to play I was the first one doing the dance moves...

Then it hit me...

Those dances were choreographed.

Of course I wasn't out there dancing with everyone at the "Praise Jam". Their songs didn't have dance moves! They free styled.

...Something this Catholic doesn't do unless she has alcohol in her. (And even with alcohol all I can do is clap and move my hips slightly...sometimes even to the beat!)

We Catholics need choreography! We need our dance movements to mean something. Just look at the Mass...there are concrete reasons why we sit, stand, make the sign of the cross, shake hands and kneel.

Of course, some of our "moves" are being changed this Advent. And you better believe this Awkward Catholic is geeked about the almost certain awkwardness.