Dancing in a Short Film?!
If you’ve been around me for any length of time, you’ll soon realize I’m a very clumsy person. Half my time in the gym is spent fumbling the dumbbells and hitting my head on the barbell, while the other half is spent laughing off the embarrassment. So naturally, dancing around Tokyo for a short film was the last thing you’d expect to see me doing.Yet there I was, in a scenic park at the foot of the Tokyo Tower, dancing alongside two professional ballerinas. No, I wasn’t the intentional joke like how American Idol always includes one terrible singer for the comedic value. These were two dancers that genuinely love their art form and would share it with anyone willing to try.
Isn’t missions a little like that? Here I was, a five-foot-nine-inch goofball, towering over everyone around me, tripping over my own feet. But I believe in the God that loves me more than I could ever fathom. So much so that it drove me to dance. In PUBLIC. What a plot twist!
Filming the Dance Video
At the end of the book of Matthew, we are given the Great Commission. Jesus commands: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20 NLT). How wonderful is it that the Author of Life, the Resurrected King, and the Judge of all Humanity would directly include us to participate in building His kingdom?! This command applies to all Christians, not just those that fall under the “overseas missionary” category. Right now, whether you’re sitting on the couch in your comfy clothes, opening emails in your office at work, or doomscrolling on Instagram between classes; you are a missionary participating in the Great Commission.
Sometimes, and more often than not, making disciples is uncomfortable. Being out of your comfort zone for Christ is practically in the job description. The conversations are awkward, and it takes effort to initiate interactions. But Christ came and died for you specifically. He put you on his Kingdom building team on purpose. Your obligation is to open your hands to whatever experiences that entails. For me, that just so happened to include being a really uncoordinated backup dancer.
Praise the Lord for His provision! I’m currently 50% funded for this upcoming summer. Let’s keep the momentum going!
If you feel led to donate to my internship in Japan, please do so electronically by clicking the button below. Estimated remainder needed: $4,900
P.S. Here’s the short film, don’t laugh too hard (^_^)