The Last Dance

Graceful fingers slightly curve

Arms above, her

Head tilts back, neck elongates

Body snaps,

And twirls, then twirls again

Leg goes up, extends, around

Then down

To touch the ground.

She moves like notes on melodies

Entwined, emotive symphonies

Divine

Her heartbeat fills the room

Ba-boom, ba-boom, ba-boom,

Gliding,

Smooth.

It touches everyone,

A flow

From head to toe.

We feel it.

Then, she smiles,

And we know.

We know her passion to

Awaken dreams

Thought dead in those

Who’d accepted

Defeat instead.

“Rise up!

Get moving!

You’ve got this!

You can do it!”

That is what she said.

And they rose

Moved

Dreamed

Achieved

Believed

Because

She knew it.

Soft arms

Fiercely embrace,

A sweet smile

Emanating grace,

Beauty

Spontaneously unfolds

And wraps a multitude

Brings them together,

One.

Laughing,

Dancing

Loving

Being,

One.

Childish giggles

Echo as they

Run among

Those gone before.

They gaze in awe

In rooms where

History’s laid out,
At things once old,

Now new to them.

Rotary phone?

A typewriter, and

Feathered hats?

Flapper dress and

Polished Mary Janes

Crossing lanes -

To meet?

“Yes,” she said,
"Yes."

“Don’t you

forget -

To remember.”

She kneels

at the end

of the number.

Arms outstretched,

Head lifted

Smile radiant

Eyes closed.

It was her final pose

The last dance we would see

Now every move
 is Heavenly.

She’s twirling with the angels.

In Memory of  Brenda Cooper

How Are You Living?

"What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it. Not how long you lived, but how you lived. You are going to give your life for something. What will it be—a career, a sport, a hobby, fame, wealth? None of these will have lasting significance. Service is the pathway to real significance. It is through ministry that we discover the meaning of our lives. The Bible says, "Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body" (Romans 12:5 Msg) - Rick Warren.

Those words struck a deep chord as I sat in a memorial service where I'd been asked to sing. As I listened to the tributes being offered, I thought, "Wow. What a life." It wasn't perfect, but it was enviable. We were celebrating a man who had great vision and lived every moment positively impacting the lives of others. He was fearless in his expression of faith and boldly shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone he could. Many said he'd left this earth too soon, but the way he lived and what he'd accomplished seemed like the product of many lifetimes. He was committed, and passionate. Purpose drove him.

Myles Munroe said, "Die empty." Leave nothing you are purposed to do undone. I find myself on a journey of epic proportions. Not just serving, worshiping, or teaching our youth, but writing and publishing books as well as promoting my first worship conference. It sometimes seems surreal. Mainly because I am just a vessel. I have to rely on God every step of the way.

One thing is clear, a God-given vision is never accomplished without God. It is larger than life. You face doubt. You battle fears, yet giving up is not an option. I have decided to live on purpose, to die empty. This resolve allows me to keep moving in spite of uncertainty. Fear becomes motivation, not discouragement or prevention. Whatever you are destined to do, do it scared. Don't stop. That's when you're living? That's how you live.