Dumbed down

"dumb something down" informal
simplify or reduce the intellectual content of something so as to make it accessible to a larger number of people

something I said back in September: "Particularly in the area of dancing, I was ready to bury that passion and that gift because it doesn't look like the way it used to........As I inclined more and said, 'God, I want to be more like you, I want to be emptied of me and filled with YOU,' that's when HE was able to step in and say, 'Let me change your definition and alter your perspective, and help you lift your eyes to see ME through this'." 


What a productive, encouraging morning I've had today. Praise Jesus. :-)
I was sharing this morning with my very dear friend/mentor/aunt/elder about all that I've been doing and God has been showing me during this final quarter of school. Most significant "goosebump" moments for both of us are the practicum hours I've been able to do, and how they SO specifically use my passion AND my experience (and education, I suppose).
For the past seven weeks, I've gotten to assist and lead multiple ladies with "special needs" through simplistic ballet, jazz & pilates classes. What freshly occurred to me the other day was how dancing has once again become a regular part of my life, but not at all in the fashion I could have guessed. I'm not physically able to do everything I could do five years ago, but I am amply qualified to instruct those who are even less capable....and what a different motivation you have when you're suddenly responsible for how others turn out. ("suddenly" is the wrong word....)
As I lead these precious, mentally/physically handicapped people through some fun, free movement, I can't help but thank God for using the foolish things to shame the wise.

²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1st Corinthians 1, ESV)

What a gift I've been given; to understand what it's like to have to slow down, pace myself - not push myself - and realize that whatever capability I have can still be used to instruct and encourage OTHERS. It is never, never, never about me. Never.
If I go when/where God says go, then of course He will be with me whenever/wherever I am.

And, "dumbing down" is not a bad thing. Not if it serves to make Jesus more accessible to more people. I think that's what has happened/IS happening. When God works something together for good, my good is equivalent to HIS GLORY - if God's not being glorified, then it can't be good.
Foolish, weak, low, despised ---> God wants it!

If I'll quit making excuses and just keep on walking forward, there's no way I can lose because God can use anything that's willing. I feel like crying. :-)
God is just so faithful. so Worthy. so True.

So thankful. I hope I don't get over this anytime soon.
((current song))