October 7: Ain't No Mountain High Enough

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8: 37-39

At the end of our youth-led worship service, the youth asked the congregation to stand and dance together in celebration of the God who loves us and is always with us no matter what. As Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell’s, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” came through the speakers, our congregation danced together – hesitantly at first, but picking up in enthusiasm as the youth and children danced exuberantly through the aisles.

“Ain’t no mountain high enough,

Ain’t no valley low enough,

Ain’t no river wide enough

to keep me from getting to you babe.”

It is so easy to let the weight of grief, fear, anger, sadness, and a number of other deep emotions paralyze us as we hear news reports of violence and hate across the world. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed and believe there is nothing to be done, no way to help. Often I find that the best thing to do in those moments is to dance. Put on music – sad, happy, oldies, Broadway, anything that you can move to – and dance, allowing body to connect soul. I think our biblical ancestors like David and Miriam knew something about this connection between body and soul that we’ve forgotten in our reserved, standing or sitting, well-mannered families and churches. Something that has to do with healing and wholeness and whole-bodied-ness.

So take a few minutes today as a family, put on some music, and dance together. Be silly, be awkward, be off-beat, but dance. Perhaps you’ll find some deep joy in the midst of everything else. Perhaps you’ll be reminded of God’s abiding presence dancing with you.

God, remind us that you are with us as we dance, as we cry, as we learn, and as we grow! Amen.

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Douglass Anne Cartwright is a pastor at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Albany, Oregon. She loves to dance, sing, play games, and learn more about God.
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A Litte More... Hear the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz-UvQYAmbg

(Song written by Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson • Copyright © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC)

Our 2016 prayer vigil theme is Helping Our Children Heal from Violence. For more resources visit  disciplesjustice4children.org and docfamiliesandchildren.org.