I Keep Dancing!

Mountain Top

     Solo was the name of the singles group I was attending.  I had never really liked ‘single’ groups.  It just had a negative connotation for me; poor girl, she is single, can’t she find someone that would have her.  Why isn’t she married?  I felt it labeled me and I don’t like labels.  I was learning more and more who I was and the last thing I wanted was to be put in some kind of box and be expected to act that way.

     But I found such a nice group of people in Solo and we all seem to be on a journey with God; different places for sure, but we shared a common bond – being single.  I was drawn toward them.  I made some close friends there that I am still friends with today; truly a gift.

 

     There are 2 things that stand out to me about being part of this group and it all centered on this particular time called “Mountain Top”.  One Thursday night the leader started talking about an opportunity; at first I was unsure, he talked about serving.  Maybe you cannot understand why I found this a bit weird, but I had always had so many problems of my own; I didn’t have time to think about other people; their problems, their situations, their lives.  What did he mean?  I listened closely.

 

     Every year Solo was involved with a mission group called Mountain Top and participated in a trip into the Appalachian Mountains to build homes for people who could not afford them.  What?  People in the United States didn’t have homes?  It was hard to believe.  I became very interested in this trip.  I started reading about what Jesus had to say about serving.  I didn’t understand, but I had this excitement and stirring deep within me.  How could I get excited over building a house, I certainly didn’t know how and why would I spend my time doing this?  I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

 

     Several of the others started talking about the trip.  I asked them how they felt about it all.  They were not sure, but had an interest.  The leader planned a special meeting for all those who were interested.  I couldn’t wait to show up.

 

     I went on a Saturday afternoon and didn’t know any of the people.  I sat down, watched and waited.  The trip was explained, all the logistics and then we were asked who wanted to drive.  Well I didn’t, it was all so new to me, and I just wanted to take it all in.  One young woman offered to drive and then pointed at me and said, “I want her to ride with me.”  Let’s just say this was one of those friends I still have today.

 

     That was one of the most amazing things about this trip; I didn’t know anyone when we started, but I became so close with everyone on the trip.  It was conducive to a special bond, working with people to help someone else; a closeness that is hard to describe in words.

 

     This one man brought his tools for us to use.  Now as I said, I knew absolutely nothing about building a house, but there were a few carpenters, builders and painters with us and they were going to teach us how.  I was assigned to work with this man and all of his tools.  He had just bought a new electric saw to use for the trip.  We were building a house for a young woman, 2 years younger than me that had been living in her car for a couple of years.  She used the cigarette lighter for electricity.  Now this had been very difficult for me to comprehend.  She looked just fine, her name was Francis and I would never have thought she was living in a car.  She had lost her job, couldn’t find work and had no place to live.

 

     I was told that I would put on the roof.  What?  I was not afraid of heights, but had no idea how to lay a roof.  Since there had to be much done before the house was ready for the roof, I helped with errands; running here and there, doing mostly what I was told.  One morning the man with all the tools showed me how to use his electric saw; well he thought he did.  I watched, listened and thought I understood.  About an hour later he was up on the side of the house and asked if I would cut him a 2 by 4.  I hesitated a moment, but thought; I can do this.  I went over and guess what?  I did it.  Oh I felt very good about myself, took the 2 by 4 over to this gentleman and asked what was next.  He told me he needed another one.  I went to comply.

 

     OK, do you understand the word cocky?  Well I think I got a little cocky.  I went to cut the 2 by 4, turned to put the wood down on the ground and cut the cord completely.  Yes I did.  It happened all so fast.  I really didn’t know what I had done, but everything went quiet; the saw stopped working.  The man on the house looked down at me, then at the saw and back at me.  I became so afraid.  I just knew he was going to be mad, scream at me and I was not sure what else.  As he came toward me, I believe I was literally shaking.  Later he told me I had tears running down my cheeks, I don’t remember.  He put his arm around me and said, “Don’t be so upset, it could have happen to anyone.”

     Work was delayed for the next couple of hours.  I was pretty shaken up and wasn’t sure why.  This man showed me forgiveness and I know now it reflected the heart of Father God.  I made a mistake, I didn’t do it on purpose, but I always felt that I couldn’t make a mistake.  I had to be perfect all the time.  Now who can be perfect all the time; unrealistic expectation, right?  Hard to live up to, but I had always tried and got very upset with myself when I messed up.  I guess I learned that somewhere early in my life, but God was showing a new way, His way, His character.

     I still remember that man, what happened and the truth I learned.  It was a life changing moment for me.  I still have a hard time giving myself grace, but when I see how the God of this universe gave me grace; I am humbled.

     One evening while walking around thinking about this incidence, I ran into Francis.  She was standing looking at the little house that was going to be hers.  I stood beside her and looked also.  She turned and smiled at me.  Finally she said, I have never had a floor before.  I thought I had misunderstood and asked for her to repeat what she said.  She said when I was growing up my family didn’t have very much money.  She had lived in a small house and it didn’t have a floor, but her mom always swept it everyday and tried to keep it clean.  I just stared at her.  She went on to say, I can’t believe I am going to have a floor.

     There was a bit more to be done before the floor would be completed.  I told Francis that the next evening the floor should be finished and let’s meet at this same time and dance on the floor.  She laughed and said I would love to do that and she repeated I can’t believe I am going to live with a floor.

 

     The next day we continued to build the house.  I had such overwhelming feelings that were hard to describe and I had never had them before.  That evening around the same time as the night before, Francis and I met at the house and dance on her floor.  It was amazing under the moon light, singing and dancing like a child.  Francis was so happy and I had never known such a happy feeling seeing someone else this happy. 

     We were dancing, singing and laughing so loudly, we did not hear the rest of the crew come up.  They watched us for while, but shortly joined us.  We had such a good time; what was drawing us together like this?  I believe it was the Spirit of God, His love, grace and just the feelings that come when you reach out beyond yourself and help someone else.  This serving thing….I was going to have to look into it a bit more.  I liked the way it made me feel inside.  I didn’t care that I had paid for the trip, lived in a place that had no mirror, no bathroom; this was different for me.  I had always cared about these things. 

     Little did I know that was when God may have put the spark in my heart for missions; looking out into God’s world, seeing what was happening, what was going on; seeing people, cultures and nations and wanting to be part of what He was doing. 

     I came home from that trip changed; I was a different person.  About 8 years after this, I went on the mission field in Eastern Europe.  I wrote Francis and told her what I was doing.  She sent me 5.00 dollars a month for financial support for 3 years.  This woman that lived in a car, never lived where there was a floor…..reached out to me.  She had gotten a job shortly after we finished her house at a library.  She wrote to me often and said she would never forget dancing on her floor under the moon.  I would not forget either. 

     I also never forgot the man that showed me God’s love and forgiveness; and let me know it was OK to make a mistake; I was human.  This trip had truly been a mountain top experience!

     I stayed in the singles group for another year.  God used it in my life.  It was hard to leave, but our journey with God takes us in and out of experiences.  He brings people in and out of our lives.  Not holding on is hard, but the only way we continue to learn is to trust Him.  God was about to take me through another life changing experience; another mountain top experience.  Are you ready to go with me?  Let’s go!