Death is Inevitable, Dancing is Optional

A few years ago, work consumed my life. I juggled being a wife and raising a family with two jobs. My health and family suffered as a result. Then, one New Year’s Day something strange happened. Even now, I’m not sure if it was real or just a dream...

I woke up with a start—it felt like someone was watching me. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Hmm, I must have dozed off on the couch. I ached with exhaustion. The last thing I remembered was mulling over my New Year’s resolution.

That’s when I saw him—a bearded old man him sitting in my living room!

“Who are you?” I said, my heart racing.

He held up an hourglass, and said, “Don’t you recognize me?” His eyes sparkled back at me from under giant bushy eyebrows.

“Uh… Father Time?” I asked.

“That’s what people call me, but that’s not my real name,” he said in a deep voice. “You can call me Bob.”

I felt like I needed something to calm me down, and all I could think of was chamomile tea. So, I said stupidly, “Would you like a cup of tea?”

“No, thank you,” he said. “It runs right through me.”

“Wh… what are you doing here?” I asked.

“Dispatch sent me,” he said. “I heard you were struggling with your New Year’s resolution, and I came to give you some advice.”

“Dispatch?” My knees were shaking, but he seemed quite calm—as if this sort of thing happened all the time.

“Yes,” he said, “Michael and Gabriel get the big jobs.” He twirled his long beard around his finger. “At least I’m not Fred—the Tooth Fairy…”

My mouth fell open. That brought him back to the moment, and he gave me a piercing look.

“Well, you understand that I can’t give you a New Year’s resolution, per say, but ‘Up-stairs’ there’s a definite consensus on the subject. However, I am allowed give you some clues. It’s up to you to decide.”

“Okay…” I said studying his face. His skin looked old and young at the same time… weird.
“Here’s your first clue.” He cleared his throat and spoke these words:

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot…
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance…
He stopped and peered out at me from under his bushy eyebrows—as if he expected me to say something.

“Well, these verses are familiar.” I said timidly.

“Do you know why I spoke them to you?”

“Er… not exactly,” I said. “I’m not good at thinking when I’m nervous.”

“That’s normal. Now, consider them again carefully. What stands out?”

I whispered the verses over to myself while he waited. “Well, not everything on the list is inevitable like birth and death. Some of the things are a choice—like dancing.” Suddenly, I felt the fog lift from my brain. “Dancing is optional!”

“Ah yes, my little Grasshopper,” he said, “You’re getting warmer! The new year is a time to reflect, a time to assess where you are in the seasons of life—and consider what to do with the time you have left.” He paused, and said gravely, “If you died today, what would you regret?”

As I thought of the time I spent working—not spending time with my family, taking care of myself, or spending time with God —I started to cry.

“You’re beginning to understand, aren’t you, little one? You have been too busy, not saying no to anything.” He took an extra long pause, and said, “But have you taken time to dance?”

Somehow, I knew he wasn’t really talking about dancing—but before I had time to answer or blow my nose…

Father Time… Bob said, “I knew a man, a very busy man. Bryan Dyson was his name. He was the CEO of Coca-Cola at the time. He learned an important lesson—which is your next clue.”

His eyes focused back on me in that funny way that made me feel like he was staring at the back of my skull—only from the inside. Once again, he cleared his throat and spoke:

Life is like a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air—work, family, health, friends, and spirit, and you are keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four—family, heath, friends, and spirit—are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will become scuffed, damaged, or even shattered. In any case, they will never be the same.

My heart swelled as I listened—my chest felt almost too small to contain it.

“That’s it, my child,” he said. “That’s all I have to say. The rest is up to you.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks. “I know what I need to do.” I said, “I know what I want to do!”

“What have you decided?” His eyes sparkled even more.

I felt a burst of energy and stood up. “I’m going to take time to dance with my family—we’re going to play and talk, and I’m going to listen! I’m going to dance with myself, go for a walk, get some rest, eat something good! I’m going to dance with my friends, give them a call—on their birthday, and invite them to lunch! And most of all—I’m going to dance inside, meditate, rejuvenate—and talk to God!”

“My work here is done!” He smiled triumphantly and stood to go.

I looked at him and realized I wasn't afraid of him anymore. “When you came, I felt awkward,” I said as I walked him to the door. “I didn’t know what to say…”

“I get that a lot,” he said with a chuckle.

“I asked you if you wanted a cup of tea,” I held out my hand, “but what I should have asked is—would you care to dance?”

He took my hand and twirled me around, and as he did, I closed my eyes and laughed. When I opened my eyes he was gone...

Scripture from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, NIV

Footnote: This entry is adapted from a speech I delivered on December 30, 2009. It was the first time I tried doing a skit. I played myself and the other character. I was terrified, but I survived, and my audience didn't pelt me with tomatoes!