Step Ball Change
Step ball change.
In dancing there is a move called the step ball change. Simply described, you step out with one foot, then transfer your weight to the ball of the other foot briefly and then change back to the original foot. When I was a kid, my mom and Teris Brantley’s mom enrolled us in ballet, tap and jazz classes at the Hugh Smith Recreation center which we attended while they made fabulous ceramic items in a class of their own. Some of their creations included 3-D recreations of Pinky and Blue Boy, a gorgeous complete chess set, and some really colorful ashtrays.
It was the 70s.
Anyway, Terri and I would be in our class learning to plie, heel toe, or step ball change under the watchful eyes of our teachers who, to my recollection, took their jobs very seriously.
My fourth kid is learning to drive at this moment and I was reminded recently how important it is as we operate a vehicle to keep an eye on the near, middle and far distance.
In dance, and in driving, and in life, there are many different things to be attended to.
Today, as has often happened in our history, people are calling for change. And my newsfeed is full of near distance remarks (we have to fix this now) and far distance remarks (God is in control no matter what) and everything in between. All have some validity to the person sharing them, but none are complete on their own.
In light of that, I am thinking this morning specifically about the step ball change. You see, when you are making that dance step, where you end up, depends very much on how you execute it. There are many ways to do it. You can take a tiny step, a side step, a forward step…you get where I am going. But if all you ever do is a step ball change, it doesn’t really matter where you are looking- you are going to end up pretty much close to where you started.
Does that mean you shouldn’t do it? No, not at all. It looks cool and it is fun. Fun is important. All I am saying is, don’t depend on just a step ball change to get you across the room in a timely manner, and don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t. The world is and always will be imperfect. People will always let us down. We let ourselves down. Do your best anyway and put your trust in God. Try as much as you can not to run around waving your hands over your head and screaming in panic. It isn’t a good look. (Also, a fur hat with horns is not really a good look, but that clearly doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen sometimes.)
Sometimes we focus on the near distance and we need to be reminded to take a longer view. Sometimes, we can ignore what is happening right around us. To me, it is easier to navigate this wonderful mess called life if you have dear friends who will kindly and gently remind you to keep putting things in perspective and focusing on what must be done today. I am fortunate, I will say blessed, to have friends like this, and I hope that I am able to help others do that sometimes as well.
Today, may we find our focus, be kind and stay warm. Take care of yourself and each other. Jesus loves you and so do I. Happy Saturday.
In dancing there is a move called the step ball change. Simply described, you step out with one foot, then transfer your weight to the ball of the other foot briefly and then change back to the original foot. When I was a kid, my mom and Teris Brantley’s mom enrolled us in ballet, tap and jazz classes at the Hugh Smith Recreation center which we attended while they made fabulous ceramic items in a class of their own. Some of their creations included 3-D recreations of Pinky and Blue Boy, a gorgeous complete chess set, and some really colorful ashtrays.
It was the 70s.
Anyway, Terri and I would be in our class learning to plie, heel toe, or step ball change under the watchful eyes of our teachers who, to my recollection, took their jobs very seriously.
My fourth kid is learning to drive at this moment and I was reminded recently how important it is as we operate a vehicle to keep an eye on the near, middle and far distance.
In dance, and in driving, and in life, there are many different things to be attended to.
Today, as has often happened in our history, people are calling for change. And my newsfeed is full of near distance remarks (we have to fix this now) and far distance remarks (God is in control no matter what) and everything in between. All have some validity to the person sharing them, but none are complete on their own.
In light of that, I am thinking this morning specifically about the step ball change. You see, when you are making that dance step, where you end up, depends very much on how you execute it. There are many ways to do it. You can take a tiny step, a side step, a forward step…you get where I am going. But if all you ever do is a step ball change, it doesn’t really matter where you are looking- you are going to end up pretty much close to where you started.
Does that mean you shouldn’t do it? No, not at all. It looks cool and it is fun. Fun is important. All I am saying is, don’t depend on just a step ball change to get you across the room in a timely manner, and don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t. The world is and always will be imperfect. People will always let us down. We let ourselves down. Do your best anyway and put your trust in God. Try as much as you can not to run around waving your hands over your head and screaming in panic. It isn’t a good look. (Also, a fur hat with horns is not really a good look, but that clearly doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen sometimes.)
Sometimes we focus on the near distance and we need to be reminded to take a longer view. Sometimes, we can ignore what is happening right around us. To me, it is easier to navigate this wonderful mess called life if you have dear friends who will kindly and gently remind you to keep putting things in perspective and focusing on what must be done today. I am fortunate, I will say blessed, to have friends like this, and I hope that I am able to help others do that sometimes as well.
Today, may we find our focus, be kind and stay warm. Take care of yourself and each other. Jesus loves you and so do I. Happy Saturday.