Day 11 - One step at a time

I first learnt to dance when I was about 8 years old. I can remember walking with 2 of my sisters for my first lesson – feeling a little excited, happy, apprehensive, scared all at the same time. The actual lesson I can’t remember but have many fond memories of dancing round the room counting 1,2,3, 1,2,3, or forward, forward, close etc. The steps and tunes I can still remember now over 50 years later and often go through them all in my living room!

I can also remember that when I was in a Bronze medal class I would look at the Gold medallists and above and think – ‘I can easily do that and want to be in that group and not stuck in Bronze’. I wasn’t thinking about the technique, timings, footwork, and poise and skill that was involved in each step – I just wanted to get to Gold and above.

I did get to Gold and above, and even went on to do my teaching and theory exams in many different dance styles, run my own classes and become a caller in a Ceilidh band.

All this took time and effort, training, and patience, and by just taking ‘one step at a time’ and listening and following my teacher’s instructions and guidance.

Question: “How can we plan ahead if God leads us only one step at a time and sometimes blocks our way and sends us off in a different direction?”

Solomon gave us the answer to that one. “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” We can make plans, either by asking God for guidance first or struggling through it on our own and then, when it doesn’t work out as we want, we can ask and call out to God. Sometimes the plans we make are not always the direction in which God wants us to go. God may not give us clear directions and the specific details until we reach a turn in the road and we need to know which way to turn.

Let us remember that God leads us, whether in our careers, our hobbies, overcoming an illness, or families matters. He leads us ‘One step at a time’.

So for me, whether it’s using my feet to dance or my hands to craft, I know that to get where I am, I have taken things ‘One step at a time.’ I know that God has given me this skill and talent to use to the best of my ability though the journey at times may not have been quick enough, straight enough or plain sailing!!

My love of dancing has never gone away and I still enjoy it now as much as I did when I first learnt.

Linda Cooke