The Ninth Day of Bringing Gifts – December 20, 2012
“On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking,  seven swans  a-swimming, six geese  a-laying,  five gold rings – four calling  birds, three  French  hens,  two turtle doves, and a partridge  in a pear tree.”
Dance is part of worship  and celebration. It’s commended in the Bible, particularly in the Psalms (e.g., 49:3; 150:4). Following  Hebrew tradition, the church beyond the first millennium saw dance as an expression of prayer and praise.  Relatively recently  it has resurfaced in some worship  services.
The popular song, “The Lord of the Dance,” portrays Jesus’ life and mission  as a dance. Its words  were adapted to the tune from the American Shaker song, “Simple Gifts.” On this ninth day of Christmas, with today’s verse about  dancing, see how these words  get your own feet tapping  – or set you to dancing!
I danced in the morning when  the world  was begun
I danced in the Moon and the Stars and the Sun
I came  down  from Heaven and I danced on Earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth:
Dance then,  wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be
...lead you all in the Dance, said He! (or She!)
“…and  I danced on Earth”! How at odds this is with portrayals of Jesus as serenely  private,  sad, melancholy – or hanging  on a cross. Those are true, too, no doubt. But what’s missing is “the joy set before  him” at the heart  of it all (Hebrews 12:2).
Jesus was a Jew who participated in the traditions  of his day. There’s no way the special  joy he knew could  have kept him from dancing along  with his fellow Jews. He was not a recluse. He wanted there  to be enough wine at weddings! He wanted his disciples to be as caught  up in the Spirit of celebration as he was.
For the reserved among  us who refuse to dance or lack the occasion, we can still get the Spirit. We can let the joy of Emmanuel – “God with us” – dance in our hearts.  And in how we come  across  to others,  they’ll know  the same joy we do.
According  to an annual study by a national financial institution, the cost of nine ladies dancing is approximately $6,294. To explore  the life-giving possibilities of a $6,294 gift to the Christmas  Fund for the Veterans  of the Cross and the Emergency  Fund, visit http://bit.ly/CF12_12_12-9.