Earlier this week I did a series of lectures for Perspectives in Monterey, Sacramento and Hercules. For this course I teach on the kingdom of God and my lecture is entitled, Living in the Rhythm of God. As some of you know, the invitation to dance is one of my favorite metaphors for how we can participate in the good dreams of our Maker. (see excerpt from SG below)
FAT CHANCE BELLY DANCE
During National Dance Week one April, Lisa and I attended a showcase performance of modern dance companies. One of the featured troupes was curiously named Fat Chance Belly Dance. As the tribal drumming began, more than 40 women emerged from behind a curtain, moving their bodies in rhythm to the music. The women smiled broadly as they clanged hand cymbals and gyrated their bellies in unison to the beat. We were startled by their joy and exuberance and the variety of body shapes and skin colors— black bellies, brown bellies, tattooed bellies, taunt tan bellies, stark white bellies, bellies from fit and skinny to plus size pudgy. All of the women danced with such strength and confidence. Four dancers sashayed to the center of the stage for their solo performance while the other women continued to sway behind them. “These must be the best dancers,” I thought “and the other women are just here for background.” But I was wrong. Eventually every dancer had a chance to perform in the center of the stage. The older and heavier women danced with moxie equal to the young and fit. The women hooted and cheered for each other as each new set of soloists made their debut in the center of the stage. Their dancing was an unfettered celebration of life, with every woman having a place in the pageantry.
Tears came to my eyes and I was surprised by how deeply their performance moved me. Their choreography struck me as a fitting metaphor for the dance of the kingdom of God. People of all shapes and sizes, nations and tribes are invited to enter the greater wholeness of the kingdom of God.
When he spoke, Jesus proclaimed, “The kingdom of God is at hand.” The first people who heard these words most likely interpreted them nationalistically—a new political order was about to be established by God for the sake of Israel. They soon learned that Jesus was announcing the reality of something more universal and more personal—the potential for each of us to live in rhythm again with the genesis- vision of our creator. Jesus was announcing the power and potential for us to dance together in harmony with the divine aria of love.
Next week I will start teaching a 4 week online course through Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley. This is a great group setting to engage with the life and perspective I explored in SOUL GRAFFITI: Making A Life In The Way of Jesus– AND you can get continuing education graduate credit. Details can be found 
