[ teach me to dance ]

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[ story behind the song ]

The idea of asking God to teach us how to dance may seem strange to some, but of course the song is not so much about actual physical dancing, as an exploration of the idea of dance as an analogy for a relationship with God. The song continues to add more analogies, such as moving, walking, living and loving. So the first line; “Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart” sets in motion what is effectively a sung prayer to live in a way that is consistent with God’s heart of compassion, love and justice.

The analogy of dance was not at all strange to some of the Early Church theologians, who pictured the relationship of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, as a divine dance of pure love and joy. With this in mind, it seems very appropriate to me to think in terms of the Christian faith as being drawn by God’s love into the rhythm of that same dance.

I also wanted to write a song that emphasized that faith in Jesus Christ is not an abstract thing, i.e. only about ideas and beliefs, but about our whole person, body, mind and spirit, committed to becoming like him in the way we act, speak, treat other people and live in the world God has entrusted to our care.

The melody was co-written with my friend and fellow musician Steve Thompson, who also produced and arranged the music for the first recording of it.

[ lyrics ]

Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart
Teach me to move in the power of your Spirit
Teach me to walk in the light of your presence
Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart

Teach me to love with your heart of compassion
Teach me to trust in the word of your promise
Teach me to hope in the day of your coming
Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart

You wrote the rhythm of life
Created heaven and earth
In You is joy without measure
So, like a child in your sight
I dance to see your delight
For I was made for your pleasure
Pleasure

Let all my movements express
A heart that loves to say 'yes'
A will that leaps to obey you
Let all my energy blaze
To see the joy in your face
Let my whole being praise you
Praise you