Step out to dance.

Step out to dance the dance of life

Thirty years ago, when I was eight years old, I made a decision not to have my shoes modified. My cerebral palsy affected the muscles on my right side and so my right leg is somewhat shorter than my left, the right-hand muscles smaller and my right foot is a size smaller than my left. Makes it difficult when buying shoes. Those of you who have one leg even slightly shorter than the other, will know it’s not always comfortable.  Not having my shoes built up was an act of faith and ever since that day, every step I take is a step of faith. The problem I faced though, was how to step out to dance the dance of life when my steps were always going to be uneven?

Step out to the impossible

In my passionate support of sport, I have always pursued the impossible. It stems from a desire to bring an offer of praise to the Lord. The best way I could think of doing this, would be by means of a graceful dance. But, with my right hand side muscles not always listening to instructions properly, a graceful dance is a bit difficult for me. More precisely – impossible. But I longed to dance.

Step out with Magic

When I was blessed with the opportunity to play polocrosse, I spent a number of years playing in beginner matches. I longed to play harder, faster polocrosse. Then Magic came into my life. He was a shiny ,dark-liver chestnut with a glint in his eye and a white blaze down his forehead. He was built like an athlete. Magic became my dance partner. He took me to the faster divisions in polocrosse. Like a true dance partner, he understood my every thought. The polocrosse field became my dance floor and on Magic, it was always a glorious dance. My horse was the master of the dance. There was beauty and grace in his every step and I was swept along with him in the thrill of it.

Seasons come and go. After sharing his dance with me for a good ten years, Magic, being advanced in years and suffering from cancer, bid me farewell. I was heart-broken. There will never be a horse like him again. 

Step out to dance on the track

With that chapter now closed, the athletics track has become my dance floor. I strive towards a beautiful dance in every step I take. Every step is an offer of praise to the One who gave me the grace to run. When I pull on my spikes, I am donning my dancing shoes. When I step out onto the track, I am stepping out onto the dance floor. I have a song of praise in my head as I wait at the starting blocks. I may not be wearing a beautiful ballroom gown or dancing a waltz. But I am dancing my dance of life. And that is what matters. I pray that my Father in heaven will be the Master of my Dance in Life.