Dancing Without Sound

In 1987, Chinese government official Liu Xiaocheng was so deeply moved by the performance of a small group of artists with disabilities that he vowed to rewrite the negative stereotypes about people with disabilities in Chinese culture. Liu embarked on a recruitment trip through China, seeking talent for a new troupe of differently abled musicians.

As Liu shaped the troupe with hopes of moving a marginalized group into the mainstream, they were initially part-time and fairly amateur. But as word spread, their public image was reborn. By 2002, the troupe was working full-time and traveling internationally. Renowned professional musicians and dancers were brought in to establish new repertoires and high-level training, and the troupe even began touring as a United Nations advocate for persons with disabilities.

Today the China Disabled People Performing Arts Troupe boasts remarkable talent, preferring to focus on the gifts of its young artists rather than the obstacles they have faced in life. In their carefully choreographed performances, the dancers are hearing impaired and the musicians are sight impaired. With phenomenal precision, the dancers rely on the rhythms they feel through the floor to time their movements in unison, and the musicians listen for the breathing patterns of their peers to ensure that they remain in synch.

These artists have learned to lean deeply into the gifts God has instilled within them, refusing to be stalled by their differently abled bodies. And the resulting artistry is truly a marvel: Dancing Without Sound, Performing Without Sight.

How often do we blur through our days, neglecting to remain attuned to the details of life around us? Remember Jesus' warning to the church in Sardis in Revelation 3:2-3:

Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Too often we spend precious time bemoaning the things that haven't been or will never be, rather than seeking out the remaining gifts that God has planted within us. When we allow the disappointments of life to consume our days, it can be increasingly difficult to hear the Holy Spirit's gentle breeze. But the miracle of our faith is that God's grace allows us to begin anew today and every day.

As you marvel at the China Disabled People Performing Arts Troupe performance, consider this: Are you so attuned to the world in this moment that you feel the rhythms of life through the ground beneath your feet? Are you alert enough to hear the patterns in the air around you, modulating your own movements and behavior so you are a blessing to others? Can you commit to living life spiritually awake, embracing the gifts God is asking you to share with the world?

Peace on your week,

Jennie