The Dance
By: Catherine Judd
Embodied souls
The narrative of creation
In a state of perfection– unfit to be alone.
A helper made fit
Humanity’s mirror
It is hard to know until we see
At last, bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh
Adam and Eve
That first glance met
Eyes shimmering with the dawn of understanding
So this. This is what I am.
I see, Lord, that togetherness was Your design all along
I was fashioned to be upheld
Lord, grant me the courage to let my steadiness falter
That I may learn to rely on another
Intimate. Heavy. Life-giving.
Real.
The dance between souls
Togetherness– the linking of arms
Weary bodies spurring each other on
And there, side by side, face to face
Scattered pieces received fully
In the light of Christ-like love, brokenness made whole
My gaze met
A kind yet dim reflection of the way You see me
The way You hold me
I am an embodied soul, unfit to be alone
Lord, I need.
The mystery of formation
What an honor to hold position in the lives of Your children
My mother, Your daughter. My brother, Your son.
The stranger, Your image-bearer
Fleeting connection, lifelong fellowship.
Each a position with unique influence
To leverage words and actions for truth
Behold, the power of kindness
One influencing the narrative of another
Togetherness– Your design all along
What an honor to dance with another soul
Ordinary spaces become places of worship
My mind lingers on family:
A covenant
Gift. Opportunity. Responsibility.
Simple and profound
My soul, sanctified
These fellow travelers are my home.
Growing together in the sacred monotony
My sister, through your words, the Lord calls me higher
He calls me deeper– to live bent lower.
And in your tears, my mother, the Lord calls to me,
“Hold as I have held”
Yes, Father; I am prepared to hold your daughter steady.
But how quickly am I reminded I need just the same.
For I look into eyes, and my glance traces down arms–
Arms that have held me a thousand times before
How arduous yet sustaining is this dance between souls.
And my father, as you lead with humility and protect in love,
I thank you for your tears too
Through them, I grasp the Father’s tenderness and mercy.
And oh my sister, your joy and your boldness
How they draw me to the Lord’s fullness.
And my brother, my first and forever friend
Many chapters we have lived
Through sorrow and rejoicing
Yet steady is the understanding of kindred minds.
The covenant of family holds love made real
In bearing with one another, glory is revealed
With full giving and full receiving, a new thing bursts forth
A metamorphosis of the soul
Lord, may I offer myself to the ones You have given to hold me
Self-gift
And what is a gift if not received?
May my arms be a place of warmth and refuge–
Steady arms to carry the hurting underneath the shadow of Your wings
Receiving in grace, anointing with peace
May Your truth and Your grace be the bedrock of my love
May I see and allow myself to be seen
As Adam and Eve did in the beginning
The dance between souls
A thing of beauty to behold
A soul unknown is a story untold
Lord, may I listen
Grant me the courage to tell
May I embrace this dance between souls.
Catherine Judd is a fourth year nursing student.
