Stay on the Board!
I’ve reconnected with an old love. I did step (now hip hop step) more than 30 years ago, but it’s not set up the same…and neither am I. The movement is more complicated and the counts don’t always fall into an 8 count pattern. Further, let me just add that the music is less familiar to me so it’s not like I can even anticipate what movements may present. Nevertheless, I go about twice per week. It’s a great cardio engagement and I have fun - even when I mess up, finding myself on one side of the board, watching my “classmates” on the other. When I can get back aligned and in line, I do so. Suffice to say, it’s a challenge that I welcome and honestly, I can see improvement from whence I began. Go me!
Yet there is one movement that has had me in a holding pattern. I’m pretty coordinated, have been all my life; however the “cut it up” movement has had me shook! I found myself only engaging the movement on one side of the board and struggling to transition to the other. No matter how many times I witnessed the movement, it was a “no” for me. I practiced in the Y studio and at home, where I purchased my own step to hone my skill, but my failure continued to emerge. Last week before I went to class, I pulled out my step to practice “cut it up.” There was no music, no instructor, just me and my step. As I stood on top, I heard the words of one of my “classmates.” Her voice sounded as though it was in my home, as it has been at the Y. She said, “Don’t get off the board.” I paused and considered what she meant and while her words were referencing preparation to engage the “cut it up” movement, concurrently I heard the Holy Spirit’s affirmation of our posture as it relates to the desires of our heart that do not fall outside the bounds of the promises of God. Leave it to me to find wisdom in the folly of exercise, but here goes…
The “trick” to mastering the movement of “cut it up” is to literally leave one foot at a time atop the board, while not physically moving oneself off the board. One foot must also be engaged, which means until the next call is given, you stay on the board. In the spirit, until the Holy Spirit directs otherwise, when we are petitioning God, we stay on the board or as we often say, “the wall.” We don’t come off. We remain, believing that the God of Yes and Amen will respond. Does it get weary? Absolutely. Might we get out of breath? No doubt. Yet desiring God to “cut it up” in our lives without holding in place until He does forfeits our portion of the deal. What do we say to these things? We are more than conquerors - when we sustain ourselves through faith, hope and the audacity to believe that God will answer.
When I attempted the movement, by coming off the platform, my core was less engaged and I didn’t have the stamina to keep going. Yet when I engaged my core and kept my posture, I actually used less energy because I stood on my foundation, which enabled me to persevere. Regardless of who is at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, we must be clear on who grounds us. Nehemiah 6:3 reads, “So I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down.” What is keeping you on the wall? What has you cemented and convicted to believe the report of the Lord even when everything around you suggests differently? When I actually take the time to look back, even as far as my initial “step” days and remember the myriad of prayer requests and seeking God for wisdom to know which way to turn, I am overwhelmed with the extent to which He answered. It wasn’t always in the direction I thought I needed or wanted, but it was always for my good. More importantly, the more that I got on and off the wall, the longer the agony of waiting. Remaining on the wall provided strength and comfort in the midst of it all. Remaining on the wall provides assurance. Remaining on the wall reminds us that as we stay connected, God will show up and more importantly, cut it up!
After practicing this week at home, I went to class. Unbeknownst to me, my instructor, slowed the pace of the class and provided ample time and opportunity for us to practice “cut it up.” And we did. And I did, all because I stayed on the board.