The sound of rain dancing on the roof top midst the tune of rolling thunder inspired me to join in the droplets’ delight with some response of my own. Weeks of drought with prayers and hope for rain made this sound of dancing raindrops a longed for gift of the summer. Giving in to this spontaneous call, I performed my own ritual rain dance with arms moving in imitation of the rain drops as they reached the roof with their tapping feet.

August seems to be the time for dancing and celebrating the full flung produce of the summer. This year, the deep and bright colors of our flowers surrounding the house and the fresh beans and cucumbers gathered in from the dry soil are greater cause for dancing. Extra caring and time have been required to sustain life with water poured from buckets and pails in place of nature’s downpour of plenty.

As with the lack of water our earth looks chared and lifeless, so,too, much in our world seems bereft of the flowing gift of life. Daily we hear and read about violence, acts of hatred and retaliation, and alienation between peoples and family members. Actions which speak of lives torn apart and devoid of nurturing love. It is so easy to keep the problem and solution “out there” waiting for someone else to find the answers.

Recently, a visiting friend, a psychologist working with individuals seeking social services, commented, “There are so many hurting people in our world.” These words were for me a realization, once again, that the “out there” pain and need are close to home, indeed, calling for my attention and action. This connected with a statement I read lately in a book that has caused me to ponder its meaning in my life. “What is wrong with the world is wrong with you.” So, as I distantly condemn the acts of war and strife in our world, I need to look deep within to find the inner turmoil that affects the entire universe as well as the gifts of peace and hope that are given to be shared. How difficult to know that the responsibility is directly mine; that all of life is connected with the positive and negative energies flowing from my life.

As I open my heart to the healing of the negative within so that all of life may know healing, I like to think that the above statement can also be stated in the positive, “What is right with the world is what is right with you.” So each time I give in to the power of dancing all the beauties of people and all of creation around me (and they are so many), I enhance all that is right with me so all may be right with the world.

How does your dance bring the goodness of life to the world today?