The Eleventh of Christmas

 

There's something about dancing that stirs the blood and raises the spirits. Something that calls from beyond with news of wonderful things. 

I can't get enough of it. A couple nights ago we learned an English country dance, repeated it, and followed it up with the Virginia reel. At that point everyone there was done. They were leaning on their knees panting for breath. So was I, but I could have kept going all night. 

For me a dance is not just about following a set of steps in time and tandem with others, it is a creation, an art, a story communicated through movement. 

When I dance I am singing with my feet.

What makes it even better is when I'm doing it with other people. It is though we have become one, all of us. Normally disjointed and awkward, we become beautiful when we move in time, one symbol, one being, moving and breathing as one(most of the time!).

It is not untoward, then, that some medieval hymn writer should have drawn a parallel between dancing and Christ with His bride, the church. 

Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day,

I would my true Love would so chance,

To see the legend of my play,

To call my true love to my dance.

 

Sing O my love, O my love,

My love, My love,

This have I done for my true love.

        The song goes on to describe Jesus's birth, life, and death in the form of a dance, ending always with the chorus, "This have I done for my true love."

I love this Christmas carol for two reasons, first, because I believe that, to a degree, all of life can be compared to a dance, and secondly, because it is a beautiful image to imagine the relationship of Christ with the church as a man dancing with His bride. Especially a man who has sacrificed His life for her. 

How many of you have heard this lovely carol? I'm posting one of my favorite arrangements sung by a treble choir and arranged by John Rutter, but there are many versions that are magnificent. This one only has the first two verses...the original text has eleven. 

 Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;
I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance;

Then was I born of a virgin pure,
Of her I took fleshly substance
Thus was I knit to man's nature
To call my true love to my dance.

 In a manger laid, and wrapped I was
So very poor, this was my chance
Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass
To call my true love to my dance. 

 Then afterwards baptized I was;
The Holy Ghost on me did glance,
My Father’s voice heard from above,
To call my true love to my dance. 

 Into the desert I was led,
Where I fasted without substance;
The Devil bade me make stones my bread,
To have me break my true love's dance.

The Jews on me they made great suit,
And with me made great variance,
Because they loved darkness rather than light,
To call my true love to my dance.

 For thirty pence Judas me sold,
His covetousness for to advance:
Mark whom I kiss, the same do hold!
The same is he shall lead the dance. 

 Before Pilate the Jews me brought,
Where Barabbas had deliverance;
They scourged me and set me at nought,
Judged me to die to lead the dance.

 Then on the cross hanged I was,
Where a spear my heart did glance;
There issued forth both water and blood,
To call my true love to my dance. 

Then down to hell I took my way
For my true love's deliverance,
And rose again on the third day,
Up to my true love and the dance. 

 Then up to heaven I did ascend,
Where now I dwell in sure substance
On the right hand of God, that man
May come unto the general dance. 

My takeaway is simply this: Let's not treat Christ's birth as a man as simply an onerous task. There was joy among the angels at His birth, and while it was certainly humbling, it was by no means mirthless. It was part of a grand story, a narrative, a dance which we are all a part of. 

I am excited to commemorate the beginning of this beautiful new dance, and I hope to see you all at the end when we shall all dance with Him forever.

      Until Tomorrow,

            ~ Christianna