LEARNING TO FLY

“Float like a butterfly, children!” 

The ballet teacher moved her long pale limbs up and down, back and forth, moving across the linoleum in an awkward ecstasy that troubled me, even at age four. 

Then, satisfied with her demonstration, she returned to face her students with a tight-lipped smile and a brisk clap.

“Now, begin!”

I crossed my arms and stood my ground while the other ballerinas took flight, one by one. They giggled and fluttered about the room in pink leotards and matching tights, their mothers watching from the perimeter in maternal delight. 

I compared the others' dance attire to my own. I wore a slip - the underwear kind - which my quick-thinking Mommy tried to persuade me looked like a princess tutu, but I wasn’t convinced. 

I was ashamed.

She stood off to the side, my dress draped over her arm, and waited for me to come out of the cocoon that day. 

She waited for years.

Because for most of my life, I told myself I wasn’t built to fly, or even flutter for that matter. I didn’t have what it took, so I remained wrapped in fear.

But one day, Mom herself was called upon to demonstrate another freedom dance that eluded me - the graceful art of trusting Jesus. 

She spread her wings and let His Spirit carry her from one dance floor to the next in the performance of a lifetime- one that took my breath away and made me want to follow. 

Mom’s voice still twirls across my mind each morning as I reach my arms out wide before Heaven and begin to practice my faith. 

“No regrets,” she reminds me. 

“Trust in the Lord,” she instructs.

And as I do, the slip of shame I once wore transforms into the most exquisite royal ball gown - the kind meant for a daughter of the King - and I step out onto life's dance floor and begin to fly.

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NLT