Becca is Learning

I hope you dance.

I want to let you in on a little song that I love but loathe to admit that I do, I hope you dance by Ronan Keating, (actually a cover originally by Lee Ann Womack, whoever she is). This song moves me to tears a good 80% of the time I listen to it, (yes I do listen to it for the purpose of making myself cry sometimes).

I think it’s healthy to let each other in on our guilty pleasures from time to time, reminding each other of our ridiculousness and also sharing in some comradery that we’re all just a bit odd.

But that’s not the reason I’m letting you in on this little Irish flavoured wonder today. Why? Because this actually rather beautiful song, (despite not being indie or cool in the slightest), reveals a desire of my heart for the young people I work with and a hope for all that they have in store in their future…

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances but they’re worth taking
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth making

Don’t let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance

Listen to the song here. Warning, if you’re prementrual you may need Kleenex*. Also the videos a bit dodgy and unoriginal, with a lot of Ronan sitting on a log as he casts his vision.

What this song touches on and strikes within me is a deep yearning for goodness and fullness of life without limits in the young people whose lives I have the honour of having a small share in. We hear that Godly call to look on at his beloved creation and to hope for so much more. In youth work, and in life in general really, we come across situations of pain or mess. Aspects of lives that restrict and suppress and create limitations for fabulous people to reach their potential and experience fullness of life.

Man, this riles me up. When I see fantastic young people who could know so much more if it wasn’t for all types of injustices that inhibit or imprison so many. I’m glad that this does frustrate me, I pray that I don’t lose that fire in my belly that burns with frustration for them, and I pray that more people get it.

But what I also pray for is that my hopes for them be realised. Because if these beautiful people let loose with all that they could be; their gifts, skills, passions and personalitys, all that God could and would have them be, then we need to stand back and prepare to marvel and to be moved.

I want to be a youth worker who dreams big for her young people. Who sees something of utter worth and significance and sits back as they grow out of her role with them and laps up all that she seems them do and become with joy and awe. I don’t want my own perspective to be short sighted and I don’t want an arrogance of being surprised when they do more marvellous things than they can imagine themselves.

Heavenly Father,    

           I pray that the young people I have the privilege to know, love and learn from may dance in every part of their walk (mostly metaphorically!). What I want for them is to be wholly liberated and alive individuals, with courage inside of them and eyes that see every opportunity. That they would give all that they have to offer and would do that unashamedly. And Lord God, help us older people to learn from their ability to grow and change and accept new challenges. Make us young and adventurous in our hearts too.

                                           Amen.

*FURTHER WARNING: If you are both male and premenstrual, you may need to seek further advice.